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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



MOTHERS' COUNSEL 



TO 



THEIR SONS. 



BY 



JENNIE C. RUTTY, 

Author of Letters of Love and Counsel for " Our Girls. 



"My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy 

mother : When thou goest, it shall lead thee ; when thou sleepest, it shall keep 

thee ; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee."— Pkov. 6 : 20, 22. 

" Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things 
are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever 
things are of good report ; if there be any virtue, and If there he any praise, think 
on these things."— Phil. 4: 8. 

" That our sons may he as plants grown up in their youth ; that our daughters 
may he as corner-stones, polished after the similitude of a palace."— Ps. 144 : 12. 



Moundsville, W. Va., U. S. A. 
Gospel Trumpet Publishing Company. 

1899. 









LIRRaw «f 0ON6RESS 
Two Copies Received 

JUL 30 1904 
Cooyrfgrht Entry 

Lk*> o a o 

^ COPY B 



& 






Copyright, 
by 
Gospel Trumpet Publishing Co. 



u 



TO THE BOYS. 



1 ' God wants the boys, the merry, merry boys, 
The noisy boys, the funny boys, 

The thoughtless boys — 
God wants the boys, with all their joys. 
That he as gold may make them pure, 
And teach them trials to endure : 

His heroes brave 

He'll have them be 

Fighting for truth 

And purity. 

God wants the boys. M 



"Why does society insist that boys must sow their 
wild oats ? There is no legerdemain about life. There 
is no way to sow vice and reap virtue, any more than 
there is to sow tares and reap wheat. " 

—John B. DeMotte. 



"If you expect virtue and purity from mothers, 
wives, sisters, and friends, so must they expect the 
same from you. " Page 200. 



HAVE YOU WRITTEN TO MOTHER ? 



Pray may I ask you, worthy lad, 
Whose smile no care can smother ; 
Though busy life throbs round about, 
Have you written home to mother ? 

You are fast forgetting, aren't you, quite, 
How fast the weeks went flying ; 
And that a little, blotted sheet, 
Unanswered, still is lying ? 

Don't you remember how she stood, 
With wistful glance at parting ? 
Don't you remember how the tears 
Were in her soft eyes starting ? 

Have you forgotten how her arm 
Stole round you to caress you ? 
Have you forgotten those low words ; 
"Good-by, my son, God bless you " ? 

Oh, do not wrong her patient love; 
Save God's, there is no other 
So faithful through all mists of sin ; 
Fear not to write to mother. 

Tell her to keep the lamp of prayer 
A light, a beacon burning ; 
Whose beams shall reach you far away, 
Shall lure your soul returning. 

Tell her you love her dearly still, 
For fear some sad to-morrow 
Shall bear away the listening soul, 
And leave you lost in sorrow. 

And then through bitter, falling tears, 
And sighs you may not smother, 
You will remember when too late 
You did not write to mother. 

— Selected. 



/ 



CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Mothers and Sons 1 

Morality 6 

Home Influence 12 

Companionship 25 

Joys and Sorrows 37 

Honor,, Nobleness, and Beauty 53 

Education 64 

Habits 74 

The Tobacco Habit < 88 

Experience in the Use of Tobacco 109 

Intemperance . 127 

Secret Sin 149 

As Others See It 179 

Social Purity 194 

Courtship and Marriage. 210 

Amusements 232 

Business 254 

Keligion — True and False 273 

Salvation in Jesus 298 

Conviction 308 

Eepentance — Conversion 323 

Purity 345 

Baptism of the Holy Ghost 360 

The Life of Faith 373 

The Church of God 397 

Divine Healing 409 

Time and Eternity 425 



PUBLISHERS' PREFACE, 



A friend and benefactor of boys has said, "Society 
chaperons her lassies, her lads she pushes out to learn 
the world alone." Truly it does seem that here is 
food for much sober thought on the part of parents. 
And what can cure such a diseased public sentiment 
more speedily and effectually than the wide dissemina- 
tion of a literature showing clearly that the responsi- 
bility of fathers and mothers on behalf of their sons is 
in no way less than that which they feel so gravely 
resting upon them for the protection of their daugh- 
ters ? Xone too high can the standard of true woman- 
hood be held, and none too carefullv can we miard the 
purity, chastity, and all the -fine traits of character 
and affections of our daughters. But can we claim 
that our fallen race is being lifted up, much less re- 
stored to the high plane on which man was created, if 
there be not the same attention paid to the develop- 
ment of hoxoe, nobleness, and beauty of character 
in our sons and brothers — the fathers of future gen- 
erations ? Then hand in hand with this enlighten- 
ment of parents let there go to every home good books 
for the boys and girls, lifting up the single 
standard PURITY — Pure Womanhood; Pure and 
Noble Manhood. 

God's ways are not man's ways. So it was when 
truth was to be brought forth to mark a new era in 
the lives of thousands of our sons and daughters. Tn- 
stead of coming from the pen of the famed, dipped 



Viil PUBLISHERS 3 PREFACE, 



in worldly applause, Heaven's hand of inspira- 
tion had been reached down and laid heavily 
upon the fond mother heart of a humble farmer's wife, 
Mrs. Jennie 0. Rutty, of Meriden, Kansas. With a 
fair education, a school-teacher's experience, and bet- 
ter than all else, a true and tried Christian mother's 
trust in God, she began her literary labors; not for 
fame nor worldly remuneration, but because as a 
mother she could not withhold counsel from those she 
loved. Her first published volume, Letters of Love 
and Counsel for " Our Girls" we gave to the public 
May 1, 1897. We said then that it was a book for all 
girls in all places ; and then as not before was felt the 
even greater need of a similar book for the girls' 
brothers. Almost at once Mrs. Rutty' s heart began 
to be burdened for her boys (not alone her own son, 
but every other mother's son) that they might not 
come a whit behind the "dear girls." But with her 
usual reticence she held back from the work and pre- 
ferred some brother or some other mother to feel the 
reponsibility. Yet when the mission was plainly hers 
to perform, she did not shrink, but looking steadily to 
Him who had called and promised to supply wisdom 
liberally, the work was done " in His name ;" and how 
appropriately christened "Mothers' Counsel to Their 
Sons" those shall know who read its pages, only to 
find it as their own dear mother speaking so tenderly 
— so thoughtfully, wisely, and prayerfully. As truly 
as a boy's best friend is his mother, so surely will boys 
everywhere, and even those who have grown to man- 
hood, appreciate and be benefited by such a book. 

What other guarantee for its contents can this book 
need than its name? Certainly none to those who 



publishers' preface. ix 



Have read the " Letters of Love." But to others we 
might say, This book is designed to give our sons, and 
sons who have no mothers, the counsel — knowledge 
and warning — that every boy needs before he can 
safely go forth to life's battle. Remember, it has been 
said that where ignorance is bliss it is folly to be wise. 
In that genial clime Satan's influence over man is 
supreme. He may steal woman's virtue, decoy in- 
nocent girls, and send their souls fast down the road to 
hell. The State licenses him, society fosters and ap- 
plauds him ; and all because it has not been taught that 
while our daughters are to be as " corner-stones, 
polished after the similitude of a palace," it is equally 
obligatory upon preachers, teachers, and parents to 
give us sons that shall be as " plants grown up in their 
youth." A little consideration of what is necessary in 
the choice of seed and soil, in climatic conditions, and 
in much laborious and judicious culture to develop a 
perfect plant, will begin to bring out to the reader's 
mind the beauty and force of this simile of our sons 
being " as plants grown up in their youth." 

Now with the author's gratitude to many mothers 
whose prayers have gone up in her behalf w T hile she 
prayed and wrote, and her thanks to those who have 
contributed their letters for use in the book, we send 
it forth, praying Father to bless it to the boys the 
world over, and to our sons' sons. We wish that every 
boy who takes up this book might read it through, and 
give it careful consideration. Finally we ask that 
each one who feels the words as those of his own dear 
mother to him and receives a benefit therefrom will 
loan the book far and wide to many mothers' sons. 
" God bless the boys." 



MOTHERS' COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS, 



MOTHERS AKD SONS. 



One of the highest, noblest, and purest emotions of 
the natural heart is love, and this is most strongly ex- 
pressed in the mother's devotion to her children. 
Troni their earliest existence they have received her 
care, her most tender and loving solicitude for their 
welfare, and the great wealth of human affection. 
Their well-being has employed her thoughts while 
passing through the greatest physical anguish, and no 
joy is so great as when she first looks into their faces 
and sees life, health, perfection of form, and infant 
beauty. Their care is her delight as she sees them day 
by day unfolding their God-given powers ; and while 
she dearly loves their infant ways, she is looking 
fervently to the perfection of manhood and woman- 
hood for her darlings. She dreams of their noble- 
ness of nature, of their moral strength to resist evil, 
and of their courage and physical strength to face 
life's battles and lovingly care for her in the declin- 
ing days of life. She faithfully and uncomplain- 
ingly yields herself and all her interests for their 



2 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

good. Her self-denial is proverbial, and many are 
the instances where her love for them has been 
stronger than love of life and she has freely suffered 
death in protecting them from danger. Her affection 
for her daughters manifests itself in loving solicitude 
and a shielding from all the hardships of life possible, 
with the desire to see them quietly anchored in some 
sweet haven of rest and security. Her love for her 
sons holds within it a respect for manhood that is 
beautiful to witness. As she looks into his baby face 
the words " My baby boy " spring up, and express the 
tenderness of love mingled with high aspirations and 
a consciousness that within him should be the possi- 
bilities of a greater and a stronger nature than her 
own. 

As the years pass and he dons the dress of boy- 
hood, her affectionate pride expresses itself in the 
words " My little man." Then as he enters manhood 
and his height and strength exceed hers, she says in 
tender respect, " My son;" but all through his youth- 
ful years her heart held for him that sacred name 
that should express more than relationship. All the 
good mothers give greater honor to the moral and 
intellectual development of their children than to the 
physical; and their hearts are made glad by every 
evidence of intellectual ability and moral integrity, 
as they know greater will be their influence for what 
is good and pure. 

The religious mothers consecrate their children to 
Grod, and use every means to have them enter his ser- 



MOTHERS AOT> SONS. 3 

vice; for they do not seek for them honor, riches, or 
fame, but that they might sit at the feet of the King 
of Glory and learn of him. Daily " mother's prayers" 
are ascending to heaven in their behalf; and how 
many of their blessings are in answer to these prayers 
no one can tell. Many are the testimonies of way- 
ward sons who have constantly realized the restrain- 
ing power of their mother's prayers, the loving and 
trustful hope for " better things of them;" and who 
have at last, after many years of willfulness been 
glad to find " their mother's God " a loving heavenly 
Father who had made ample provisions for their sal- 
vation through Jesus the Redeemer. 

Mothers who love their children dearly can give 
instruction only equal to their own position, and 
generally have desires and aspirations for them in 
harmony with their own. If a mother is worldly- 
wise, her ambition for her sons will be of that nature. 
If mothers are moral, their greatest desire for their 
children will be a strong and true morality; but if 
a mother is deeply and truly spiritual, her desires for 
her loved ones will be for their spiritual good and to 
see them honor and serve the true and living God. 
Because of this variety of instruction and influence 
it is well for every mother's son to ponder the instruc- 
tion given, and see if it measures to the highest 
standard and for good to soul, mind, and body. Many 
mothers are lacking in natural affection, or in morality, 
or in wisdom, or in spirituality. So it is wise to pay 
heed to that which comes from those filled with the 



r 4 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

spirit of truth, who take the word of God as the 
man of their counsel, and seek wisdom from above. 

Every son should heed his mother's teaching and 
honor her counsel, so far as they are right, and en- 
courage to godliness and eternal life. Mother love 
may often desire for her children that which has the 
appearance of good, which in reality would work for 
evil to all who sought and obtained it. The problems 
of life are too full of responsibility to be passed over 
without due consideration. Therefore we desire to 
give to all who will read it the loving counsel of saved 
mothers to their sons, hoping to help many to better 
things, and some to eternal glory. 

When we look out upon this great world of people 
and observe their different dispositions, conditions, 
and surroundings, we see there are many who need 
various kinds of help in order to do justice to them- 
selves and be a blessing to others. How many lives 
have been turned into different channels of virtue and 
usefulness by a few words given just at the right 
time, can never be estimated. With the desire to 
speak such words of helpfulness to many boys and 
young men, we Christian mothers want to give you 
all a few half -hour talks on various subjects of inter- 
est to you ; and we believe many of you will be glad 
to know how mothers feel and think on these ques- 
tions, and will read them with interest and profit. In 
order to reach many with just the help they need, it 
will be necessary to use plain language ; and so our 
words will be well chosen to convey strong truths. 



MOTHERS A?FD S03TS. 5 

As mothers have a great storehouse of affection, all 
our counsel, reproof, and instruction shall be ballast- 
ed with love as though all the readers were our own 
dear sons. We have no doubt that many of you are 
longing for and realize the need of mother counsel 
and love, but have been deprived of it for various 
reasons. ^lay we not offer ours as a substitute? 
Will you not carefully ponder over the thoughts 
given, and receive all the good possible therefrom \ 
We want to write to you as though we were talking 
face to face in view of the great judgment day that 
awaits us all. 



MOEALITY. 



Most children have been punished, at different 
times, by their parents, for evil-doing; so that most 
of them know they ought to do right and avoid the 
wrong; but not all are inclined to do the best they 
know. If every individual would do right as far as 
he understands, this world would be a much better 
and happier place ; and if all would not only do the 
best they know but seek for a deeper understanding 
regarding what is good, and what is evil, then this 
world would be a moral place, the abode of a moral 
people. There are few, however, who will truly do 
this; for nearly all would rather do what they feel 
like doing than to consider what is right and do it, 
if it is the opposite of their desires or contrary to 
their inclinations. 

Many love a great many good things, such as truth- 
fulness, honesty, kindness, etc., and are very agree- 
able acquaintances; and yet may, on some point, be 
doing just the opposite of what they know to be right. 
Others will try to convince themselves that whatever 
they desire to do, is right : but there is a monitor with- 
in them that reproves them for doing what they know 
to be evil, until after being unheeded for a time it 
ceases to remonstrate with the offender, and he may 



MOBAUTY. % 

be at ease regarding that evil. Have you not often 
heard young men confess how awful they felt when 
the first evil words were uttered, and how their con- 
science remonstrated with them, and they felt too im- 
pure to " look father or mother in the face " ? but 
that wore away, and the next time they were provoked 
it was easier to use the evil expressions, and while 
they felt guilty and mean, their excuses shortened 
and lessened their condemnation. So after a time 
their rejected conscience ceased to reprove, and they 
could " swear as hard as anybody/' and never know 
it; and yet in some other point of behavior be very 
conscientious. 

People may be very moral, do very many good 
things, and yet not be a particle religious; while others 
blend their morality with religious observances, until 
they imagine they are very religious. All our good 
deeds will never fit and prepare our souls for heaven. 
It takes the grace of God to do that: but after it is 
received by faith the believer will walk in obedience 
to the commandments of God, and his life be much 
higher and purer than that of the moral man. 

The instruction given to most of the young is to in- 
duce them to morality. We are always rfad to meet 
a young man having strong convictions of right and 
wrong and living up to them in daily practice, and 
we immediately think he " surely has a good mother " 
who has done all possible to instruct in morality. 
Then we wish that he could see the need of the re- 
ligion of Jesus Christ, that could do so much for him ; 



8 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

but we often see that his own goodness prevents him 
from seeing the sinfulness of the human heart, that 
can be changed only by divine grace, while some poor 
immoral creature beholding his bondage to evil and 
its exceeding ugliness will turn with joy, to the One 
who has promised to break every fetter of sin, and 
give new hearts for his service, thus making new 
creatures. While we rejoice in all that is good, we 
would be very sorry if any one after hearing our in- 
struction should be satisfied with a moral life, which 
has reward in this world only and leaves the soul un- 
prepared for the better one. 

We need to consider some things from different 
standpoints in order to behold the wrong that is hid- 
ing within them; for most evils do not appear to the 
careless observer as full of evil as they are in reality. 
The wrong one may do himself does not look as bad 
to him as the wrong some one else is doing; and such 
is the weakness of humanity that the argument used 
in defense of one's own wrong-doing will often be 
used to condemn the misdeeds of others. For instance, 
a schoolboy returning home, in the fullness of boy- 
hood life and joy, comes bounding into the house with 
a noisy " Hello, everybody !" The mother appears in 
a doorway and says, " Softly, my boy." He turns in 
anger, muttering, " I think I might do as I want to 
with my own tongue." Shortly after, a neighbor's boy 
was heard calling him ugly names, and he ran to his 
mother, saying, " That boy thinks he can say what he 
pleases with his tongue, but I'll show him differently 



HOEALITY. 91 



some time." You see he was, like many others, not 
very reasonable on the line of personal liberty, nor 
very consistent in logic. There is an old adage that 
is forcible and true: " Those who live in glass houses 
should never throw stones." That is, thev should 
never do what they do not wish others to do to them, 
but should act upon the golden rule : " Do unto others 
as ye would that men should do to you." Applying 
this to our subject, no one who does wrong himself 
should condemn another for wrong-doing. Often- 
times we have heard men condemning men for drink- 
ing liquor, when they were unable to keep from anger, 
from untruthfulness, and from strife or ill-will. Let 
him that is without sin cast the first stone. If it is 
possible to stop drinking liquor, it is possible to stop 
every other evil. While we do not believe it is nat- 
ural for men to do so, we know it is possible through 
grace. Therefore, dear boys, we would encourage 
you all to seek that grace which will enable you to live 
a i odlv in Christ Jesus. Where is there one who lives 
the very best he knows who does not desire to live 
better? This shows that morality fails to measure to 
the standard of righteousness, but is simply " making 
clean the outside of the cup and platter/' while the 
inside is unclean — that is, the life appears fair, while 
the heart is impure and is conscious of its unclean 
condition. Salvation makes the heart pure; therefore 
the thoughts and actions proceeding therefrom are 
pure also; as far as one has an understanding of what 
is right, and the one is constantly learning of God. 



10 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

The word of God is ver j strong ii£ condemnation oc6 
those who are self-righteous; that is, they think they 
are " good as anybody," " will go to heaven if others 
do," etc. If this were possible, then there was no 
need of a Savior dying upon the cross to provide a 
salvation that would save each one from all sim As 
boys are often uncertain about right or wrong, we be- 
lieve that many will be glad to hear them clearly set 
forth in different ways upon many subjects, and this is 
what we want to do first, and then show you that 
there is an alarming power to save man from his sin- 
ful condition. 

Sometimes the objection is made to our work that 
those who most need the help we give will not read 
nor heed the instruction given. This may be true 
sometimes, but we do trust and pray that each one who 
looks upon " Mothers' Counsel " will read it, heed it, 
and practice it, in his life; because we know it will be 
good for them in this life as well as in the long eter- 
nity. Boys are not as indifferent about good things 
as they sometimes appear; for the Spirit of God is at 
work upon their hearts, and did they understand more 
about such things, they would yield themselves to the 
service of God. It w^ould be too bad if any should 
fail to live a life of righteousness because older ones 
failed to urge them heavenward. There is a back- 
wardness among people when it comes to this subject 
that needs to be overthrown by the efforts of Christian 
men and women. Dear boys, as mothers we warn you 
not to resist what you know is good and true, but 



MOEALITY. 11 

yield to the right and be brave Christian Heroes; for 
that is more noble and grand than anything you 
might find in this world. 

A beautiful sight gladdened my heart not long 
ago. In a meeting were a brother and two sisters. 
The brother was a Christian; the sisters were not, but 
were becoming concerned about their spiritual con- 
dition. The brother, with an arm around one sister's 
shoulders, was seeking to win her to the service of 
God. The act of concern and expression of tender- 
ness and protection so moved my heart, that I thought 
I would give all worldly possessions to see the same 
among my own dear ones. What can be more beauti- 
ful than a young Christian encouraging others to 
serve the true and living God, because the heart is so 
filled with the blessed Spirit of Christ? 

Be not deceived. Do not " take the hull for the 
kernel " by taking a moral life for a spiritual, or a 
mere outward profession for the religion of Jesus. 
As he is a mighty Savior, his religion is a wonderful 
and mighty power in the heart of man to change it 
and make anew and pure. 

Then let us not, in folly, take 
The false, the low, or impure things 

That stand for good, but ever make 
An honest effort for the true. 



HOME INFLUENCE. 



What a wonderful power in the world is the home ! 
Its influence can never be measured, its responsibility 
is greater than words can express: and yet the ma- 
jority of homes never consider their obligation to the 
world's welfare; for each home is a small kingdom, 
ruling and reigning for itself, its aim and object its 
own welfare, and yet greater is its influence upon the 
common good than upon itself. 

The greatest power of the home is through the rear- 
ing and training of children; for they are in many 
respects what the home makes them. No one can 
clearly discern the powers at work to send out into 
the world men and women of different character and 
ability. "While it is possible that the strongest power 
lies in parentage, yet there are influences that extend 
beyond that into the unknown. Children of the same 
parents, born under the same circumstances and sur- 
roundings, are exact opposites in character, mental 
ability, and strength, and develop into various types 
of manhood and womanhood. It is nevertheless true 
that good homes send forth as a general thing good 
men and women; for the home training during the 
tender years of childhood is of great value and turns 
the current of life into right channels. Much more 

is 



HOME INFLUENCE. 13 

good would be attained if parents realized the respon- 
sibility that rests upon them in regard to the discipline 
of home. 

God gives instruction in the Bible to parents con- 
cerning their children, when he says, " Foolishness is 
bound up in the heart of a child: but the rod of cor- 
rection shall drive it far from him." If the parents 
spare the rod, the child is spoiled. Children are com- 
manded to obey their parents in the Lord, and to 
honor them by being in subjection to them. Many 
parents seeing no great good arising from a few 
chastisements of their children, arrive at the conclu- 
sion that it does no good, and get along with them 
the best way they can to avoid trouble, thus per- 
mitting them to grow up in their own ways, which are 
not good. One Bible qualification of a preacher of 
the gospel is that he be a man* " having his children 
in subjection," showing clearly that God requires it, 
and therefore it is possible. If it is, then it is neces- 
sary, and every one should receive grace from God 
to attain to it. 

We would encourage parents to earnest endeavor 
to instruct their boys and girls in right ways, because 
it is profitable for them. The enemy of all good 
would discourage, with the assurance that it does no 
good, that young people do not heed your words of 
counsel and warning: but this is not true; for many 
precious boys and girls have been saved from enter- 
ing evil ways by a few words of warning from parents 
or friends. Should any reject your counsel or seem 



14 MOTHERS' CO NSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

indifferent thereto, it may come to them in just the 
time most needed. Anyway, no one should fail to 
do her duty for fear it would accomplish nothing. 
How much better that every young person should re- 
ceive ten times more instruction than he needs rather 
than that one should fail to receive it once and go into 
evil from the lack of it. 

You may wonder why we speak thus to our sons. 
Do you not know that some of them are believing 
that it is childish, yes, even babyish, to honor or obey 
their parents or to listen to their counsel ? Have you 
not seen some who think every effort made to help 
them is just trying to keep them from enjoying them- 
selves or to make them old people before their time? 
Oh, how we wish every one who really thinks thus 
could understand the loving-kindness of our hearts, 
that prompts us to try to help them to avoid the rocks 
upon which many a young person has lost his life, his 
character, and his soul! It is natural as we look 
back over the past of our lives to see many things 
that tended toward evil, or that had a bad influence 
upon us, or that really hindered us from attaining 
the strength of character or the blessings of God, that 
we might now be enjoying. Knowing that each one 
of us can never live over his life and rectify some of 
the mistakes made, we would love to save others from 
like failures, for their good and happiness. 

Many sons listen to father's and mother's advice 
when alone with them, and feel and know that it is 
wisdom to walk in their counsel; but when they are 



HOME INFLUENCE. 15 

with young people who disregard their parents' wishes, 
they weakly submit, and because of it are led to do 
many things they would not do but for that influence. 
Arise, young man, in true courage and strength of 
character, and do what you know to be wisest and best, 
regardless of the censure of others. Do you not know 
that if you stand boldly for the right, you may have 
the pleasure of seeing some of your acquaintances turn 
from the evil and walk with you in the safe path of 
right ? 

It is beautiful to see the young turning to their 
elders for counsel and help, rather than to those 
younger. But many dear young people seem to think 
of nothing but present enjoyment, and turn to what- 
ever seems to offer it to them, no matter how much 
sorrow it affords in later years.- They are not so wise 
as the little bee who prepares for the future, but like 
the grasshopper who enjoys the summer and dies when 
the winter overtakes him; for they enjoy all they 
can in their youth, and when their folly overtakes 
them they sink beneath it to perish therein with no 
future hope as a solace for all the dark hours of mis- 
spent lives. "What a beautiful picture it makes for 
life's memory scenes when sons are obedient, kind, 
and loving, and truly honor their parents! when father 
or mother speaks, there is quick attention and prompt 
regard for all that is good. 

Let us listen while our mother tells us her dreams 
as we lay in her arms so helpless and innocent. Here 
is her first-born son. " O my precious one, I would 



16 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

have you grow into a strong, handsome man. You 
should be wise in all that is good and true, in all that 
would make you a power for good wherever you go. 
You should be noble in goodness, kind to all, able to 
assist the needy and the weak. As you grow up you 
will be kind to parents, listening to their counsel and 
paying heed thereto in the walks of life. You should 
be truly kind to every woman, remembering the 
mother who loves you and the sisters who knelt with 
you at her knees, and whom you love and care for in 
all their times of need. You should be most truly 
noble in your service to the Lord, whom the world cru- 
cified, and whom it now rejects by not obeying his in- 
struction. Oh, yes, my little one, I shall ever seek 
for you what is best for the great eternity, even 
though you may have to endure many hardships in 
this life ; for mother love would seek to carry you into 
the blessed haven of eternal rest, as it does now to the 
rest of sleep. Sleep now, my precious, and unfold as 
a beautiful bud, day by day, your God-given powers, 
until you shall be one of the noblest of God's creations 
— a Christian man." Would it not be sad if all her 
heart's desires for him should never be realized ? if he 
should grow up to be just the opposite of her dreams ? 
Oh, yes, dear boys, strive to attain true manliness of 
character, and comfort and gladden the hearts of 
loving parents. 

Many homes are unwise in methods and means of 
correction and discipline, and many are truly devoid 
of the natural affection that should control the home 



HOME INFLUENCE. 17 

for the good of all the inmates. Nevertheless the fact 
remains that children should yield to all that is good 
therein, and avoid the evil, as they emerge into man- 
hood and womanhood. If all the homes measured to 
the Bible standard, this world would be an earthly 
paradise of happiness. If all are not what they ought 
to be, let each reader see to it that his home receive- 
due care and honor so far as he is able to give it or en- 
courage others to. Often parents have some object 
before them whioh they wish to attain, and put forth 
every effort in that direction, neglecting the present 
needs of the home to the detriment of all within its 
sheltering fold. 

Day by day and year after year the care of home 
must go forward; for each day's influence upon the 
hearts and minds of the young has its portion in the 
great result. Patience is probably one of the most 
needed qualifications of parents, coupled with true 
courage to discharge every obligation toward those en- 
trusted to their care. If they will keep the confidence 
of their children, and not relax their care as they come 
to the years when many consider themselves capable 
of caring for themselves, but give loving counsel on 
all the secret things of life, thev will be able to retain 
it in the future as the children go out into the world, 
and find out by careful observation that "father and 
mother were right." In order for young people to be 
fortified against sin they must have it revealed to 
their understanding. 

Here is a letter written for the encouragement of 



18 mothers' counsel to their sons. ' 



parents, and as a warning to the young. It reads as 
follows : 



Since I have arrived at the years of manhood, in 
viewing the past I am made to shudder to see the nar- 
row escape I made from some of the pitfalls of sin 
into which so many dear young people are falling, 
perhaps never to fully recover from the sad results. 
Is there no way to check the tide which is increasing 
so rapidly and taking the young before they come to 
the years of full understanding? Must we look on 
this pitiful scene with hearts filled with sorrow for 
them, and not attempt to lend a helping hand by way 
of admonition or warning % By no means can we be 
silent and be blameless ; for the "love of Christ con- 
straineth us" to sound out a note of warning. Know- 
ing the terror of the Lord, "we persuade men," and 
especially appeal to every parent to arise in courage 
and shake off the false modesty that would prevent 
confidential conversations with the precious ones our 
kind and lovingly heavenly Father has entrusted to 
their care, and said, "Bring them up in the nurture 
and admonition of the Lord." Are you living so far 
from your children that you can not draw them to 
your side and " reveal the hidden things of dis- 
honesty " and darkness to their tender hearts and 
minds, so they may ponder the path for their feet and 
" take heed thereto according to thy word" ? 

Never will the impression made upon my mind and 



HOME INFLUENCE, 19 

heart, when first my father ventured to tell me of the 
sad effects of things done in secret, leave me ; for they 
are indelibly impressed upon my very being. Al- 
though I was nearly grown, yet I had not known the 
awful results of sin and evil company. JSTow I am 
made to praise God for this instruction, which I 
promised my father I would heed ; also a few words 
from a kind and loving mother. But how I wish 
they had been given years before — how much more 
good they would have accomplished ! though the 
words were few, and perhaps my dear parents thought 
they never amounted to much because I seemingly 
gave little heed to them, they were truly " bread cast 
upon the waters " and were not in vain ; for they fol- 
lowed me, though I was almost two thousand mile? 
from home. Those precious words backed up by a 
father's and mother's prayers were ever before me, 
with my promise to cherish them. 

When I was thrown among evil companions and 
they would try to induce me to follow them in the 
paths of sin, in drinking, playing cards and billiards, 
or going in the way of all sin and wickedness by fol- 
lowing in her path who had gone astray from virtue, 
I was able to refuse, as I felt I could not break the 
promise made to my parents. Also, knowing the sad 
results of such evils, I feared the awful consequences. 
What a wonderful blessing to me ! In after years I 
often met some of those young men who had taken 
the path of sin, and oh, how sad were their counte- 
nances and condition ! On finding out how I was pros- 



20 mothers'' counsel to their sons. 

pering they would confess their sad state, moral, phys- 
ical, and financial, and wish they had not entered the 
evil way. How sad to me to look into their once 
bright eyes and pleasant faces and behold the marks 
of sin ! 

So, dear parents, do not neglect to give the so much 
needed words of admonition and warning to the ten- 
der hearts that know not the depths of sin and the 
awful consequences thereof, remembering that a few 
words rightly spoken may save that which money can 
never buy for those who lose it. Ever your friend 
and brother, Jas. B. Peterman. 



You can see, dear boys, the precious results of be- 
ing warned, and of receiving the counsel of parents. 
We do hope you may receive such good instruction 
from some source as to help you to escape from the 
evil effects of sinful actions or from the great evils 
themselves, that destroy the soul and body. If you 
fail to receive the good that surrounds you, and take 
up with what you know is evil, you will surely be 
worthy of greater punishment than those who were 
not influenced for good by their surroundings. Let 
us listen to the plaintive life story of several boys, and 
learn a few good wholesome lessons. How it saddens 
our hearts to hear of those who failed to be rightly 
influenced by the good, and took their own course, re- 
gardless of the tears and sufferings of their dear ones ! 



HOME INFLUENCE. 21 

Dear boys: I feel confident the Lord would have 
me write a short story for you. I once knew two dear 
boys, and I loved them almost as well as my own ; for 
I had the care of them when they were little, and they 
were loving and good. They had a beautiful home in 
the country, and everything necessary for their com- 
fort and happiness. Their parents were both Chris- 
tians and school-teachers, and gave them every ad- 
vantage they could to obtain an education. After 
they had attended school a while in the country their 
parents concluded they could do better in town; so 
they sold their country home and bought a nice resi- 
dence in town, where the boys could attend good 
schools. They always had family worship, sent the 
boys to Sunday-school, and provided them with 
plenty of good books and papers ; and so did all they 
knew for their spiritual needs. 

But these dear boys turned away from all this good, 
from the tender love and care of parents and friends, 
and sought such company as led them in evil ways 
and doings. Many times while their parents supposed 
they were at school, learning such lessons as would 
help them forward in life, they were speriding the 
day with other bad boys playing truant ; for they 
deceived the teacher by imitating their father's writ- 
ing and prepared their own excuses. They learned 
to smoke, chew, and swear, and then to like strong 
drink. When they were in their teens their father 
died, and they broke away from all restraint and in- 
stead of going to school they spent their time reading 



22 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

novels and sensational papers. After they were grown 
their mother died almost broken-hearted. Her great 
desire and aim had been to give them an education 
and raise them up to noble manhood. But alas! her 
hopes were blasted; for they had chosen evil instead 
of good. She left them a small fortune, and one of 
them took his portion and went to the Indian Terri- 
tory, to live with the Indians, and realize some of the 
wonderful stories he had read, and in a short time had 
spent his property and had to work by the day for his 
living. The other brother continued to run the store 
his parents had left him, but his bad habits mastered 
him, his property soon disappeared, and now he is a 
perfect wreck of his former self, unable to keep him- 
self decentlv dressed or to associate with former 
friends. What a sad — very sad — change! 

dear boys, if you could only realize what you are 
doing when you turn from the good influence of your 
homes and loved ones (even those who may love you 
so well as not to act wisely, in shielding you from 
every hardship) to the uncertain and evil influence 
outside of those homes and to the companionship of 
those who do not love you, surely you would act more 
wisely. Dear reader, will you walk more carefully? 
will you choose what is wisest and best? 

1 once knew a bright, beautiful boy who was 
brought up in the fear of the Lord, but he too turned 
with the evil influence beyond his home and associated 
with bad companions and soon learned to use tobacco, 
and hid it from his parents for three years; then he 



HOME INFLUENCE. 23 

learned to drink and swear. When about thirteen 
years old he was converted, and his loving mother 
rejoiced greatly to think her darling boy was going 
with her in the right way. But alas! her hopes were 
of short duration; for his old companions followed 
after him and laughed and teased him out of his 
religion. He did not take care of the healthy body 
God had given him, and consumption fastened itself 
upon him; but he would not believe it, and still said 
he would get well. He would not allow any one to 
talk to him about his soul, until he got so low he was 
conscious only at times. Then his speech left him, 
and he could not talk, and oh, the agony that showed 
itself in his face ! his eyes would fill with tears and his 
face work with deep emotion and distress that he could 
not express. Sometimes he was found praying, and 
we hope our heavenly Father had mercy upon him in 
his last hours. He surely would, if he repented and 
yielded himself to God. He lay three davs in that 
condition before death relieved him. 

Oh, dear boys! shun evil company as you would a 
deadly serpent. It will surely lead you to destruction. 
The influence of home and loved ones will do you 
much more good and should give you far greater 
pleasure than the society of the foolish and gay young 
folks that are ever ready to entice the innocent. Give 
your hearts to God in the days of your youth and he 
will protect, and guide you into right and pleasant 
paths; and when death shall come you will not need 
to sorrow over past transgressions or over an uncertain 



24 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

future, but you will be prepared to enter eternal 
glory. May the Lord bless you all and help you to 
be wise in seeking first the kingdom of God and his 
righteousness, and all else needful shall be added. 

"With much love, and earnest desire and prayer for 
your welfare, I am your true friend, 

"Aunt Fannie." 



COMPANIONSHIP. 



Man possesses strong desires for companionship. 
Few are satisfied to live solitary lives, but seek for 
some one or more to share their joys and sorrows. 
The young are especially fond of the society of those 
of the same age, and the life, frivolity, and gaiety that 
it encourages. They look not to the future to con- 
sider what will be best and wisest, but enter into that 
which brings present enjoyment. Thus we see the 
difference between the wisdom of the young and older 
j>eople; for they seek that companionship that will 
help them forward in their plans and aspirations for 
the future. For instance, one who desires to gain 
prominence as a lawyer will seek the society of those 
who will assist him in legal education and promotion. 
If young men and boys could use this wisdom in early 
v^ars, it would be a great benefit to them all through 
life. 

The old saying that "you can not put old heads on 
young shoulders," while true to a certain limit, may 
be much modified by proper instruction. Let eacli 
child be firmly impressed with the belief that he has a 
place to fill in this world that no other can fill, for the 
God of heaven has given it to him, and he needs to 
take advantage of every opportunity iu grder to at- 



26 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

tain to it for his own good and the good of others : he 
becomes careful about all that concerns him, and uses 
more real wisdom than one would imagine. 

My mind was wonderfully impressed with a few 
words from the writings of a religious man, that have 
followed me through the greater part of my life, and 
have done me much good in various ways. "When I 
choose a friend, he shall be the one that is bravest, the 
worthiest and most excellent person, capable of doing 
me many a kindness that will make me wiser and 
better." This has been my heart's desire, to mingle 
with those who would be a means of advancement in 
every way for my good and the glory of God. How 
often do we see dear young people choosing for friends 
those far below them in many ways, simply for the 
pleasure of being honored by them, and then grad- 
ually sinking to their level, and sometimes below it ! 

Some one will say quickly that the advice to choose 
friends who will be a benefit, will not work both ways. 
Indeed it will, for you may choose for your friend one 
who will do you good, and you will be moving forward 
and upward, while some one below you will choose you 
for a friend and you will be ready to lend a helping 
hand and encourage him to better things, always ad- 
vancing ; for every good deed done moves forward and 
upward; so there is no sinking backward. Should 
friends prove unworthy of confidence and fail to be a 
means of advancement in life, they may be held dear 
to the heart because of their many virtues, and other 
friendships give the assistance needed, Wo one is so 



COMPANIONSHIP. 27 

strong, however, but the weaker ones may be of great 
value to him in various ways : if there be a constant 
and firm moving forward and gaining strength by the 
lessons learned. 

Sometimes the ties of nature and affection prove 
hindrances to a steady progress in the way of right, 
but it should not be so; for each obstacle should be 
surmounted and be a help by the strengthening of 
decision to move upward. " If one faint in the day 
of adversity, his strength is small." The greater the 
opposition, the stronger should be the decision to win ; 
for then the stake is worth something. Before me I 
see a dear one who from the usual point of view 
would be obliged to mingle with a very humble class of 
associates, because of her surroundings; but she had 
noble aspirations and a decision to conquer difficulties 
and triumph in right. She went bravely to work 
doing what her hand found to do, with her might, and 
fitted herself for a higher sphere ; and when the way 
opened (as it always will for the deserving) to better 
things, she was prepared for it, and filled well her 
place until again an open door urged her upward, and 
still she is pressing forward. How it should encourage 
our hearts when we have been able to prove a friend to 
such ones and help them in the battle of life ! 

There seems to be in most people a part of their 
nature that seeks for what is good and pure, and then 
another part that would run downward to what is evil. 
Here is a boy who loves books, such as histories, bi- 
ographies of great men, books of travel, etc., that will 



28 MOTHERS* COtJNSKL TO their sons. 

store his mind with useful knowledge, and prepare 
him for a place of usefulness. He has also a great 
love for good eating and drinking, which inclines 
him to gluttony and intemperance. ISTow if he makes 
a wise choice of friends, and enjoys the companion- 
ship of the learned and studious, he will sacrifice the 
lower part of his nature for the better, and find great 
gain. If he chooses for friends those who suit the 
lower nature, his course will be downward. Some at- 
tempt to live a double life, finding pleasure in gratify- 
ing both parts of their nature, but it does not last 
long; for the lower generally overcomes the better, 
sinking him down to the lowest depths. All around 
us are examples of this sad state of affairs. Many 
orators, statesmen, scholars, and preachers have shone 
brightly for a short time and then vanished out of 
sight as a falling star. Oh, how sad to see the best 
and noblest endowments sacrificed to the lower appe- 
tites ! 

There is one thing that has impressed itself firmly 
upon my heart and mind, that would do great service 
to you all if you will receive it. If one does right, 
he keeps a good conscience and is thus prepared to 
seek for good companionship ; but if he loses respect 
for himself by doing evil, he is ashamed to seek the 
society of the good, and so must take up with the evil. 
Any one who is awake to passing events has seen this 
many times, and perhaps realizes the feeling that 
would cause such a course in his own experience. A 
criminal who was soon to suffer death for crime was 



COMPANIONSHIP. 29 

asked to give the first wrong step that led to his evil 
course, and after due reflection said he remembered 
telling a falsehood to cover a slight f ault, and then be 
coming so ashamed of it when his schoolmates taunted 
him with it, that school became unpleasant and he left 
it. So after a time he fell into the company of some 
boys who were too mischievous and bad to go to 
school, and so he drifted downward to his sad fate. 

It may seem a little thing to choose your friends, 
and some never seem to give it a thought, but just 
drift along where there is gaiety. Do you know " a 
boy is known by the company he keeps' ' ? If he asso- 
ciates with bad boys, he is soon called " a bad boy," 
although he may be far from being as bad as the 
others. Here are a few words of exhortation from a 
mother whose heart has been made sad by the course 
of her sons. Please barken to them and never let 
your " mother dear " have cause for grief over this 
fault in vou. 

" May God bless the boys and help them to receive 
instruction. I would earnestlv and lovin^lv entreat 
them never to be in the company of bad boys. Wo 
have raised five boys, and our greatest trouble has 
been on this line. Our two oldest boys grew to the 
stature of manhood voung, and kept company with 
two older cousins who drank and got into trouble 
from it ; and because our boys were in their company 
they were mixed up in it. No one can imagine the 
sorrow it brings to the hearts of parents to see their 
sons brought into trouble in this way. So we beg of 



30 HOTHEKS' COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS* 

you to shun bad company, even if it is some of your 
relations. ' My son, if sinners entice thee, consent 
thou not/ — Prov. 1 :10. i My son, forget not my 
law ; but let thine heart keep my commandments ; for 
length of days and long life, and peace, shall they add 
to thee/ — Prov. 3 :1, 2." There should be a constant 
desire in all hearts to befriend and assist any one who 
wishes for improvement, but there should be strength 
of character to keep firm for the right. 

In nearly every city, town, and village are a class 
of boys who form a clique for mischief and wrong- 
doing, that just escapes the law for punishment. 
These boys often have loving mothers who would do 
all they could to make pleasant evenings for them at 
home with books and music or companions. But this 
does not please them, as they want to congregate to- 
gether and smoke and chew, drink, swear, and tell 
filthy and foolish yarns on street corners or in some 
low place that keeps open to catch the money that is 
freely spent for much that works evil to soul and 
body. There might be some excuse for the boys that 
have no homes, no fathers or mothers, sisters or 
brothers, to make a better place for them to pass their 
evenings; but for those who prefer this rough com- 
pany to the society of loved ones there is certainly no 
excuse. Often they know mother weeps while they 
are gone, and sits up watching and listening for their 
coming ; but they call it " babyish in mother/' and go 
on " making themselves manly " by unkindness to 
mother, and bad habits. Here is a nice true storv 



COMPANIONSHIP. 31 

that a sister sends to you to show you some of the re- 
sults of bad company. 

" When I was a girl, there came to our home to 
board, in company with several men, a young man of 
good appearance. He was gentlemanly, neat, reserved, 
sad, and quiet. Mother said she would like to know 
what his past life had been, but did not think it 
proper to ask him. He was slow to enter into conver- 
sation, and seldom took part in our games or music, 
except to sing a song sometimes. Our mother was 
every boy's mother, and she took care of his clothes 
and made him feel at home, and so he stayed with us 
some time. One day she asked him if he had parents 
living, and he replied, SA. father/ but was so embar- 
rassed that she did not question more. One Sunday 
mv sister had a little conversation with him, and so 
she finally said, 'Now, Sammy, we have become quite 
well acquainted, and I believe you are in trouble : tell 
us all about it, if you wish, and perhaps we can help 
you. We do not ask out of curiosity, but as friends.' 
'Well/ said he, 'I am in trouble. I was not satisfied 
at home and so wandered away, here and there, until 
I had no friends except the rough sort. I have kept 
well dressed, but have not been able to keep good com- 
pany. I know you would help me if you could, but I 
am so discouraged. I do not want to do anything bad. 
If I could get a good situation, I would try to be a man 
— but that seems impossible to obtain.' My sister told 
him it would 'pay to be a man anyway, and life was 
worth living aright.' Soon after we bade him good-by 



32 mothers'' counsel to their sons. 

and told him to be true to himself, and he went to 
work on a new railroad. The next we heard of him 
was through the county paper. Four men had been 
arrested for stealing. They were camping in the 
woods and getting out timber for the railroad. 

Among the names we read Sammy . ' Oh/ we 

said, 'he is not guilty; it is the result of bad com- 
pany/ They were sentenced (I think) ten years in 
the penitentiary. Four years later my sister and I 
were in a store, when she called my attention to some 
one standing by the store. She said, 'I am sure that 
is Sammy/ I said, 'Oh, no; he is a much younger 
man/ But she would have it so, and walking up to 

him, said, 'Are you not Sammy V His eyes filled 

with tears as he recognized us and said, 'Yes, what is 
left of him. 7 'If it had not been for your advice and 
kindness to me, I might still be in the penitentiary 
serving out a sentence for something I was never 
guilty of/ 'Oh, we knew you were not guilty of 
doing such a thing as stealing/ 'No/ said he; 'we 
were in the cabin together when they arrested us, 
and the appearances were against me; but I never 
stole anything: but it was had company again; so 
I stood no show at the trial, as they said., "Oh, he's 
one of them, take him along." ' No friends, no money, 
no home ; a stranger and a very discouraged and weak 
boy — no wonder they thought him guilty when in 
such company. ' When I was in the cell I had time 
to think over things, and see where I had made mis- 
takes that had prevented me from doing better : and 



COMPANIONSHIP. 3 



Q 



I remembered your kindness and advice, and so took 
courage to do my best, and so they released me much 
sooner. But, oh! how I have suffered no one can 
ever know ; but perhaps you may have some idea of it 
from this/ and as he removed his hat we saw that his 
hair was quite gray. We shed tears together, and 
begged him to look forward and not backward. He 
married, and as far as we know has lived an honorable 
life. Oh, it pays to look after the boys, and take an 
interest in them. Mothers and sisters, make home 
so pleasant they will not want to go away to find 
amusement, and alwavs have a kind word for those 
who are homeless and throw around them all the good 
influence possible." 

Some might think this too unnatural to be true. 
But very often do we hear of just such instances 
where circumstantial evidence and bad company have 
put men and women behind prison bars to suffer for 
the crimes of others. Strange things are transpiring, 
and no boy or man who keeps evil company is sure of 
the future. How much better to seek such society as 
will strengthen the good that lies dormant in so many 
hearts, and make them true and noble men to fill some 
worthy place in life and assist others to better things. 
No one can stand still in life ; he is becoming either 
worse or better, either learning or forgetting, becom- 
ing either worse or better at heart, either drawing 
nearer to God or drifting away as the days, months, 
and years pass. It is true that some after spending a 
few years in sin make a change for the better and 



34 MOTHEES* COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

leave off their folly and seek for good. But these will 
agree with me that it is far better never to know evil 
ways; for it takes a great fight of faith to become 
complete overcomers. 

Now we want to question every reader. Do you 
really love what is good and right? Does it look 
more attractive to you than evil? If so, then you 
will seek for it and "depart from evil." If you love 
good, then you should seek after God; for he is the 
fountain of all good, and you will attain unto good 
much faster. He also says he is "a friend that stick- 
eth closer than a brother." We pray God to bless 
every reader of this subject with a strong desire to 
seek good companionship, that he may seek God, 
enjoy the society of God's children, and finally when 
life is over spend the long and blissful eternity with 
God, all the ransomed, and the holy angels. What 
high and holy company! Will you not begin to 
prepare now? 

It seems so strange that any one 

Who thinks upon the things of life 
Should count it foolish, or unwise, 

To choose the best of what is rife 
With virtues great or wealth untold, 

But look upon it with disdain, 
And freely take a thing of naught, 

And hope to find a pleasing gain. 

If one is wise — yes, worldly wise — 
And he may have without a price 

A thing of value rich and rare, 

He takes it quickly— thinks it nice : 



COMPANIONSHIP. 35 

He made a bargain such a way, 

That he has value that will keep 
The cares of life, some troubles too, 

From reaching him, in waves so deep. 

And now, dear boys, will you be wise 

And choose thus well in everything ? 
Oh, will you choose for friends so dear 

The ones who give no pain or sting : 
But prove your friends in deed and truth, 

By helping you to purer life, 
To higher views, to deeper thought, 

To life of peace from worldly strife ? 

Of course you may, you surely can 

Make other choice, but do you think 
You'd use the wisdom of a man 

By treading near to danger's brink, 
And taking friends who only prove 

No help, no value, and no strength, 
But draw you down to depths of sin, 

To folly's height, or to its length ? 

If we should say in words so plain 

That you were foolish doing thus, 
You'd think us far from being kind 

And wonder why we "make a fuss 
About such little things of life:" 

And if we'd say, "You are not brave," 
You'd quickly say in accents strong, 

1 ' There's naught I fear this side the grave. " 

If you are wise, with courage strong, 
You'll choose for life each " better thing, " 

And bid adieu to every weight, 
That harms your soul and helps to bring 



36 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

You into bondage to the one 
Who seeks to lure in different ways 

Each one to ruin and to shame, 
That he may darken all his days. 

If it were choice but for THIS life, 

'Twould be far best to wisely choose; 
But when we think that ev'ry time 

A choice is made we gain or lose 
What helps us upward to our God, 

To endless life, to joyous state, 
To riches rare and heav'nly place — 

To all within the pearly gate — 

Oh, then we'll see that wisdom's way 

Is best in life, and ever best ; 
For what is good leads unto good, 

And thus the soul is ever blest. 
So now we hope you ever will 

Be strong, and brave, and truly wise, 
That you may gain the best of life 

And home so fair above the skies. 



JOYS AND SORROWS. 



This seems at first thought to be a strange subject 
for young people: but I am sure you will appreciate 
its rich lessons, if you will receive them into your 
lives. Did you ever think that nothing comes by 
chaince — there is an overruling hand in the circum- 
stances of each one of our lives? Grod loves us, and 
seeks to do us good from our earliest existence. 
There are laws that are unchangeable, because they 
are just. There are also provisions made for certain 
things because of mercy and love. There is cause 
and effect all through life that should be reason for 
every individual's careful consideration of all that 
pertains to this existence. A wrong step in the com- 
mencement of life brings upon the doer certain 
effects, that may prevent much good from being his 
portion. There are some actions that bear two Mnds 
of fruit — present pleasure and future sorrow. 

If we had our way, life would be one continuous 
round of joys — some would have them in one way and 
others in various ways. If some people had their de- 
sires gratified, they would not work a day, but rest, 
rest, all the days of all their years. Victuals would 



38 mothers' COUNSEL TO THEIft sons. 

increase upon the table without the use of hands; and 
eat, drink, sleep, and rest would be the height of 
joy to them. Others would have money — money to 
grow in their pockets, and little for anybody else, and 
they would buy and loan, buy and loan, until the 
grave swallowed them up. Others would work with 
good will if everything would run — run in their own 
way. Others would have a good time in any and 
every way possible, and their cry would be, " Joy. 
joy ; I must have joy." 

Now you see all the different classes of people are 
trying to run their lives to attain just what they 
desire : and so of course some are going one way, some 
another; and every little while they are colliding, and 
crash goes some one's joyful prospects, and here is 
sorrow instead of joy. Thus people set out for joys, 
and in their place they gain sorrows ; while others start 
in life enveloped in sorrows, and think, "Thus it 
will be all my days." All of a sudden the cloud of 
sorrow parts, and here are precious joys. So we see 
that the expected generally fails, and the unexpected 
transpires. In bringing this before you I desire to 
help you to see the folly of trying to direct your lives 
in ways that shall bring you only joy. Your ways 
should be so chosen as to result in most good to your- 
selves and friends; and you should be firm for the 
right, let it bring present joy or sorrow. 

Here is a young man who starts out to have a good 
time. He thinks it looks nice to smoke cigars, and he 
has heard what a comfort they are to those who 



JOYS AISTD sorrows. 39 

smoke, and so lie expects to find much pleasure 
therein. He begins to smoke, but the first cigar is 
not very encouraging, as he feels "oh, so sick:" but 
he has perseverance, and soon he can smoke quite 
well, and feels quite manly as he walks the streets 
puffing away, something similar to a small steam 
engine. As he turns the corner he meets very unex- 
pectedly a lady friend for whom he has great respect, 
and, while she greets him pleasantly, he realizes that 
she js surprised and displeased, which he soon finds is 
a fact, as she plainly tells him so when she has the 
opportunity, and urges him to give up the evil before 
the habit is thoroughly fastened upon him. This 
serious aspect of a pleasurable indulgence somewhat 
disturbs his composure, and lessens his enjoyment 
therein for some days. 

'No^Y he returns home after a month's absence, and 
as his mother greets him and gives the usual greeting 
of a mother's kiss, she says: "Why, how strong your 
clothes smell of tobacco! Been riding in the smoker? 
Oh, no! it is not your clothes, but your breath. Oh, 
my son! you have not learned to smoke?" He 
replies, "Oh, I only smoke a little, mother. You 
know all the boys do nowadays." "Oli , my boy! can 
it be true he is a tobacco-user? I was so thankful you 
had grown to manhood without using it, and I 
thought you never would. It hurts me so to hear it; 
for I know you will be sorry for it when it becomes 
your master. Better stop now while you can." He 
replies in comforting tones, "jSTever mind, mother, 



40 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

you won't care after you get used to it. I won't 
smoke much." But down deep in his heart he knows 
she is right, and instead of joy comes sorrow. 

But that is not all. Here comes his father's friend 
to tell him there is a vacancy in his friend's store, that 
he can probably secure if he makes application imme- 
diately, as he has just recommended him for the va- 
cancy. The young man is greatly pleased, and pre- 
pares to follow the advice of his father's friend. Soon 
he is on his way to the store, and lights his cigar as 
he passes a friend, and falls to thinking of his mother. 
How dear she is! how sad she looked! how she must 
love him, to be so concerned about such a little thing ! 
etc. Before he is aware, he is at the store, and Mr. 
B — stands in front watching his approach. He looks 
surprised, but says kindly, " Why, Harry, I did not 
know you smoked." " Oh, yes, a little now and then, 
he replies," carelessly. " "When did you take it up? 
lately?" " Oh, yes, when I was in C — last month," 
replies Harry, wondering if everybody is thus con- 
cerned about his doings. Mr. B — replies slowly, " I 
thought it must be recently. Your father's friend 
Mr. G — has just recommended you to fill the book- 
keeper's vacancy, and I am extremely sorry to disap- 
point you. Ever since I gave up the use of tobacco 
six months ago because it was the cause of so much 
ill health to me, I have taken no one into my employ 
who uses the poisonous weed, as I thought my in- 
fluence would be greater against it. Give it up, my 
boy, and be ready for the next place," 



JOYS AISTD SORROWS. 41 

As Harry returns home disappointed he muses: 
" "Now this is too much for such a little thing. Just 
think! a fifty-dollar-a-month place lost for cigars! 
.Well, I'll get along just as well ; see if I don't : and 
I'll not give up my cigars either; for I'm mad to think 
how foolish people act sometimes." 

There is sorrow instead of joy as the weeks pass 
and he finds no place. His mother is worried, and 
finally coaxes him to tell her why their friend did not 
give him the place he wanted so badly. In a moment 
of thoughtlessness he replied, " Oh, it was because I 
smoked — he is so good he don't like smokers." " Oh, 
my son! would you choose the cigar rather than to 
help your poor old mother? would you see her turn 
and contrive to keep herself and you fairly decent in 
dress," and you not give up what has caused all this 
trouble? Oh, my boy! I never thought you were 
selfish and cold-hearted, and didn't love me, before! 
Oh, oh, oh!" and sobs shake her feeble frame. 

Where is the pleasure from the cigar? In a mo- 
ment he is by her side, his arms around her as he says, 
" I'll give it up, mother, if you'll only laugh instead 
of cry. I can and I will for love of mother. I 
know you pray for me, and I can give up smoking 
now better than some other time. See, mother, this 
is the way I'll smoke the rest of this bunch;" and he 
tosses them into the stove. His mother smiles, and 
says in loving tones, " God bless my son. I knew he 
was better than he seemed." Why, here is joy — 
deeper, richer, and purer than he had ever dreamed of 



42 mothers' counsel to theirs sons. 

as a result of smoking. Surely many are wrong about 
the smoker's joys. 

" Well/' he muses, " now comes the "battle* Shall 
I go and tell Mr. B — that I am ready for the next 
vacancy? I don't see any other way out of the 
trouble I so foolishly got into. Yes, I'll be a man 
again and do the right, even though it don't feel just 
as good as it might." The next morning finds him 
at the store asking for Mr. B — . He is welcomed 
warmly by the merchant, who says quickly, " Oh, yes, 
you are ready for the next vacancy. How fortunate 
for us! One of the men is called away for a week, 
and you can take his place, and by that time the book- 
keeper must leave us for a visit to his sick father in 
the East. How glad I am to have you ready!" Not 
a word to recall any humiliation, but a ready help- 
fulness. Again comes a rush of joyous emotions;, and 
he says in disdain, " You old cigar! never shall yon 
darken my life another day, or hour; for there's no 
joy in you." A few months afterward, when he is 
established in the store and " happy as a king," a lady 
enters, and recognizing him quickly, says distinctly, 
" I am so glad to see you here, for I know their prin- 
ciples." Another joy that " fills his cup " and counts 
a hundred against the cigar. 

" Oh," says one, "it don't always work so well." 
No, not always, but right is right, and gives more) 
lasting joy than wrong does, every time. It may seem 
sometimes that the wicked are more joyous than the 
righteous, and that they do not have so many trials, 



JOYS AND SORROWS. 43 

but, if you notice, there is a lightness in their joys 
that shows it is very superficial. Often people will 
laugh and joke, and others will think them the 
happiest people in the world, when at heart they are 
most miserable. 

The righteous may seem to be enveloped in trials 
and sorrows that would crush the life out of them. 
For a time they may be heavy and very grievous, but 
the Christian's trust in God's promises of deliverance 
gives him abundance of strength to bear them and to 
learn many precious lessons that bring joys so deep 
that the soul is stirred to its depth with purest and 
lasting pleasures. " The joy of the Lord is their 
strength." 

" Well," says one, " you can't make me think there 
is no pleasure in worldly ways : - I know there is ; for 
I have tasted it." So, we are not going to try to do 
that, but to show you all that what seems to yield joy 
now has a sorrow also that is deeper. Let me give 
you an illustration. 

Here is a pretty little house of wire that looks 
very innocent of anything harmful, and on a little 
wire is a nice piece of cake, meat, or cheese that would 
make a nice supper for a hungry rat or mouse. So it 
sits there a few days, and as it does not do anything 
peculiar or unpleasant, one of them ventures to inves- 
tigate it, and finally creeps through the door and eats 
the dainty. While he is so doing he thinks all the 
rest of the rat tribe very unwise not to know how nice 
it is to sit there and enjoy such good things. 



44 mothers'' .counsel to their sons. 

As he finishes his meal he turns around a few times 
and concludes to go out as he came in. But, behold, 
the door is shut in such a way that there is no chance 
of getting out, and he is a prisoner with nothing more 
good to feast upon. After trying in vain to make his 
escape, he settles down to discouragement and awaits 
results. Here it comes in the form of a man with a 
stick and a dog. Oh, what will they do % The man 
takes up the cage and tauntingly says, " Oh, ho, Mr. 
Rat! we have caught you this time. We were too 
smart for you. You thought we loved you, and 
wanted to feast you on goodies, but we'll show you 
what becomes of such foolish creatures." So he 
opens the door and out jumps the frightened animal 
into the " jaws of death;" for the dog springs upon 
him, and in a moment he is shaken to death by his 
foe. The other rats take warning and will not ven- 
ture into the snare. They are far wiser than some 
men and boys. 

Here is a beautiful home. Within its spacious, 
brightly lighted parlors, the perfumes of many flow- 
ers pervade the atmosphere. Strains of music, 
mirth, and laughter float through them. 

Many young people, boys and girls, have gathered, 
by invitation, to celebrate the birthday of the young 
hostess. The evening passes with jokes, frivolity, and, 
pleasure. At last refreshment hour comes and with 
it society's concomitant punch-bowl. Its contents 



appear harmless, made of eggs, cream, sugar, water, 
flavoring, and rum, the latter to properly season it. 



JOYS AND SORROWS. 45 

The beverage seems so harmless, and so delightful 
to the taste, that the youth and damsels partake more 
than once, some, many times, until flushed and ex- 
cited they go to their homes. 

This frequent indulgence in homes soon creates a 
desire to experience the same vivifying effect at other 
times. These young men begin to frequent places 
where the mild intoxicants can be obtained. They 
are just beginning to pass through the door of the 
wire cage. They go in and out many times without 
going through the long corridor which leads to the 
tempting bait. Two years pass, their fears have de- 
parted, they go further in, drink deeper, and of 
stronger and yet stronger beverages. The devil's 
alluring, shining, enticing bait is at hand, they step 
on the lever of the cunningly covered trap. It springs. 
They are caught. The wires of the cage have sudden- 
ly become rods of iron. They are fast in the satanic 
grip of appetite. Still on, and yet deeper they go 
into all kinds of dissipation and excess, and the bars 
and bands become stronger. The devil stands with- 
out waiting to open the door and let them come out, 
only to plunge into death's awful doom. Their cap- 
tor taunts them. All their joys are turned to bitter- 
est sorrow and woe. They cry, " Who can deliver 
us from the bondage of this death ?" 

The answer comes, Jesus, Jesus only. 

So many have had such experiences that all ought 
to take warning and seek first the kingdom of heaven ; 
but there are so many who reject instruction, and 



46 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

must prove for themselves that " the way of the trans- 
gressor is hard/' If all our sons will carefully ex- 
amine everything that has the appearance of earthly 
joys, they will find that most always the end thereof 
is sorrow. All around us are way-marks showing the 
result of taking different paths in search for earthly 

joys- 

The tobacco-track has its signs in filthiness of the 
flesh, lost energy, low desires, disease, and poverty. 

The track of lust is marked by blighted lives, gray 
heads brought in sorrow to the grave, as loving fathers 
and mothers look upon the shame of sons and daugh- 
ters and with tears, moans, and breaking hearts close 
their eyes in death. Here are " skeletons in the 
closet " — separation and divorce, divided families, 
fatherless or motherless children made so by law or 
lust, wretched lunatics, ever-dying bodies covered 
with loathsome disease, and more than all else, lost 
souls. 

Here are the drink-track signs : lost manhood, lost 
virtue, lost property, lost health, lost friends, lost 
lifetime, lost peace and joy — and gained eternal sor- 
row. 

Can it be possible our sons or any other mothers' 
sons should choose these paths for life, thinking to 
find joy, when all these signs point to sorrow? A 
brother writes you a loving letter on this subject, 
which we know should help you much in a strong 
decision to wisely choose your life pathway that you 
may not have to taste of such sorrow as his, but have 



JOYS AND SORROWS. 4< 

the blissful foretaste of joys eternal all through your 
manhood days. 



Dear boys : I am deeply interested in you, and am 
sure God enables me to be your true friend. ^Yhat I 
shall write you shall be with a prayer and the hope 
of doing you good. I have passed the days of boy- 
hood and Youthful manhood and am entering the 
middle age of life. I am acquainted with the paths 
of vice and their attending wretchedness. I have 
also found the path of peace and its attending joy 
and happiness. I am aware of the satanic decoys to 
allure the youthful feet away from the paths of wis- 
dom, truth, and happiness ; away from that which is 
pure, noble, upright, and virtuous, which has its 
compensation in ease of conscience and rest of soul in 
this life, and pleasures forevermore in the life which 
is to come. 

I shall relate to you some of the experiences of my 
youthful days, and beg of you, dear boys, to read with 
carefulness and prayer and profit by it. I was reared 
on a large farm in a genial clime, where I had every- 
thing beautiful in nature to turn my heart and 
thoughts *to higher things and holier walks ; but in- 
stead of being influenced by the pure and lovely works 
of God I inclined my ways toward the iniquitous den 
of sensuality. I began my life an this low plane of 



48 mothers'' counsel to their sons. 

lust by entertaining impure thoughts, acquiring an 
unchaste conversation, and seeking such company as 
would awaken and develop the unholy desires of a 
sinful heart. I early learned the use of tobacco, 
which very soon enslaved me, which paved the way 
to the " social cup," these to the ballroom and billiard 
hall, and finally to lower and hidden vices. 

In boyhood I had aspirations for higher things, and 
educated myself with the hope of ascending, at least 
to some height, the ladder of fame and doing some 
good in the world. I now awakened to find aspira- 
tions gone, hope fled, and myself encaged within the 
iron grasp of the monster Vice. 

Onenight onmy way home from the ballroom, where 
inebriacy and sensuality ran high, a pleading came to 
the better part of my nature endeavoring to move me 
to a higher, purer life. Strange were the sensations 
that came upon me. I looked along down through the 
future and saw misery, wretchedness, and woe in this 
life, and an eternity with lost souls in the great here- 
after if I continued in this course. I also saw a 
life of usefulness, bright hopes, and pleasures, and a 
blessed immortality if I would but surrender to the 
pleadings of the gentle voice within. I consoled and 
eased my conscience for the time by encouraging the 
hope that God would hear the prayers of my kind 
mother, spare my life, and after a few years of sensual 
indulgence I would turn to a higher, nobler life. But 
this gentle monitor was not thus to be put aside but 
came again and again, until my conscience was smitten 



JOYS AXD SORROWS. 40 

by his mighty hand and I was made to tremble before 
the dark, uncertain future. As I would awake in the 
morning an unseen hand would point out to me my 
sin, a fear would come over me, and I, startled, would 
look around as if ready to flee from some hideous 
monster of the dark. The day would be spent in 
planning for the evening; for to spend it in the 
privacy of my chamber was more than I could endure. 
The place of revelry was sought to drown the voice 
of conscience. I would throw mvself into the f estivi- 
ties with all the force of my being, and appear the 
gayest of the gay. But when the sound of revelry was 
hushed, when the cup of sin had been drained, and I 
on my way home, or within the silence of my chamber 
with all the world shut out and naught to stand be- 
tween me and the whisperings of my soul, I would be 
brought again face to face with eternity. My sins 
would lie heavy upon my heart and seem to crush me 
down into the dark abyss of woe. To lie upon my 
bed was to toss in uneasiness, fearing to close my 
eyes in slumber, not knowing but the dawning of the 
morning would find me called to that awful dreaded 
world beyond, prepared for the wicked. 

Thus days came and went and grew to months. 
Sometimes bv force of resolution and fear of awful 
punishment vice would be overcome to quite a degree, 
and the surging billows within my soul be calmed ac- 
cordingly, only soon to be agitated by unrelenting fury 
of vice swaying the scepter of sin over me, making me 
groan beneath his grinding power. Thus months 



50 MOTHERS COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

grew to years, until I had reached the more sober part 
of life, when I was persuaded to turn my ways unto 
Him who has promised to lead us in the paths of 
peace, and at whose right hand there are pleasures 
forevermore. 

For years the angel of mercy endeavored to win me 
to a life of peace and virtue, and to turn my thoughts 
to pure and holy things, and to elevate me above the 
low degrading walks of sin. But vice had woven his 
fetters of iron around me until I was not free to obey 
the nobler qualities and longings of my heart. I stood 
in the ways of sin, I was pierced by its cruel thorns, 
and stung by its poisonous sting. 

I saw hopes fade and die, and cruel mockings arise. 
I deeply felt my degradation, and wished I never had 
received life. I saw far above me the peaceful path 
of right. I beheld Virtue with all her lovely charms, 
nobility, true worth, life of integrity and usefulness ; 
and all that was left of manhood blushed for shame. 
But Hope came with cheering words of encourage- 
ment for my fainting heart, and I resolved to gain that 
plane of moral freedom. Aid was given from above, 
new strength was gathered, the decision was made 
stronger; and as I yielded to the sweet embrace of 
divine love, the dark, fearful night of sin passed away 
and the light and joy of another world touched my 
soul, and I was free. In that hour I found perfect 
deliverance from the power of sin. The appetites 
that held me captive were destroyed, and I rejoiced in 
such an atmosphere of freedom and love as was beyond 



JOYS AND SORROWS. 51 

the capability of my mind to imagine of the angels in 
heaven. 

Years have passed since that precious deliverance, 
and Vice has returned no more. By heaven's grace 
I am kept in the enjoyable paths of purity, with a 
conscience at ease, and a heart hopeful in a Ee- 
deemer's love. I drank deeply of the pleasures of this 
world, and found that they contained a sting of great 
pain and vexation to the inner voice of conscience. I 
have tried the merits of Christian love, and find there- 
in the true pleasures, a confidence that calms every 
fear, that quiets every wave, and rolls over us a sweet, 
tranquil rest unequaled by the joys of the world. The 
beautiful things in nature, the lovely traits in char- 
acter, the purity of life and conversation, rejected and 
unheeded in boyhood, now turn my thoughts and 
adoration to God. 

Dear boy, we exhort you in love to turn away from 
the coarse, base, impure things of a sinful life and love 
that which is pure, manly, and right. Seek protection 
from the vices of this world in the power of Christian 
love. Court the ways of wisdom and truth, meditate 
upon things pure and lovely, admire that which is 
lovely and just, lavish your affection on heavenly 
things and not upon the coarse things of this world. 
EveVy thought and every affection that would have a 
tendency to lower the standard of your moral being to 
a level with the world should be instantly rejected. 
Every thought and every affection that has a tendency 
to elevate the character and lift up the soul to greater 



52 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

proximity with God should be encouraged. The vul- 
garisms of to-day in slang phrases, corrupt conversa- 
tion, impure thoughts, obscene literature and pictures, 
incline the youth to the beastly course of life. The 
better qualities are corrupted, the manly principles 
destroyed, the voice of conscience hushed, the whole 
moral being paralyzed, until as is given in the last half 
of the first chapter of Komans the youth has sunk 
below the brute creation. 

I pray, dear boy, that the lovely traits of Christian 
character, the purity of God's word, the sublime 
truths of holiness, the admirable paths of virtue, will 
captivate your heart and fill your soul with an affec- 
tion that will now and forever incline your heart unto 
the bountiful Giver of all that is good and pure, in 
whom are pleasures now and forevermore. Yours 
in love, A Friend and Brother. 



HONOR, NOBLENESS, AND BEAUTY. 



Nearly every person is more strongly and deeply 
influenced by some words and expressions than others. 
From childhood three words have conveyed precious 
meaning to my heart and mind. They have been of 
great value in my life, and had a restraining and puri- 
fying influence. The first word of the title of this 
chapter made a deep impression upon me while read- 
ing a book entitled " Six Steps to Honor." Although 
much of the contents of the book was quickly for- 
gotten, the impression received was left deeply rooted, 
and there has since remained a high regard for honor 
— not the honor and esteem of men, but the true worth 
that rightfully commands esteem and consideration. 
An honorable man is one who has qualities of heart 
and mind that make him worthy of esteem. While 
it is not right to seek honor from men, it is a worthy 
ambition to attain an honorable character, and that 
which has real worth. 

Many persons like to appear before people in a way 
to be counted honorable. They will do almost any- 

53 



54 MOTHERS 9 COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

thing to attain such a position. That which many 
people would consider worthy of esteem oftentimes 
would fall far short of the requisites to true honor. 
The motives of every action must be pure and good, 
and inspired by a worthy object, and not that which 
is mean, trifling, or superficial. The plans and pur- 
poses are to be in accord with all that is good and 
great. I know many boys love to think of great things 
and dream of becoming great men, but they do not 
seem to think that greatness must have a beginning. 
They imagine that some time, somehow, and in 
some way it will come about without effort. A 
great man is a great boy matured, and an hon- 
orable man should be an honorable " boy grown 
tall. So now, boys, here is a great chance for 
you. You want to be great and honorable men ; begin 
now by being great and honorable boys. How ? Cul- 
tivate purity in thoughts, actions, and aspirations. 
One is only really great, honorable, or wise who has 
good greatness, honorableness, or wisdom. There 
have been men who attained to such eminence that the 
people of the world have called them great, and yet 
their greatness was a result of wickedness. They may 
have had, great qualifications and much worldly wis- 
dom, but they did not have hearts that throbbed with 
tenderness and love, and therefore, their natures were 
dwarfed and sordid. 

If these feeble words could only be blessed of God, 
and inspire you with a real love for true greatness of 
manhood and honor, and you could all understand 



ho:nor, nobleness, ayd beauty. 55 

their real worth, it would amply repay me for my 
labor. We will trust and pray for greater things. 
Christian mothers desire you should not onlY under- 
stand these things but aspire to them with sufficient 
strength to induce you to put forth an effort to attain 
them for your oy>tl. I say, boys, attain to their 
glorious height. 

Were you to hear some one say, "There is an hon- 
orable boY " what would you think was meant I It 
would mean that he was, as far as could be seen, a 
boY who measured to that one's standard of honor. 
He would not swear, drink whisky, fight, tell lies, de- 
ceive, or be unkind to any one. That is a great deal 
to say in favor of a boy. But do you not perceiYe that 
this would be just the besinnino; of an honorable 
career I If he did any of the things mentioned, he 
would not yet haYe .begun an honorable life, much less 
ha Ye reached the height of honor. It is not enough 
not to swear, but he must use pure language at all 
times. It would not be sufficient not to drink, but he 
must have his appetites under control. It would not 
be enough not to fight, but he should be known for his 
peaceful disposition. Xot sufficient not to tell lies, 
but there ought to be such love for truthfulness that 
he would be extremeh' sincere in every word and 
action. It would not be up to the standard not to 
" be unkind, " but there should be a great abundance 
of real kindness. Can you see what it means to be 
honorable ? Boys, how many of you want to strive to 
become honorable men ? There are many ways to at- 



56 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

tain it that you may not think of now. It will be well 
for yon, however, to endeavor to discover the true 
standard of honor, and to notice how far short of it 
your life is leading you, then surely you will try to 
attain it. Before we have finished our talks with 
you, perhaps you may see more clearly what it is and 
how to reach it. 

Nobleness ! Oh, how sweet the sound ! Nobleness 
of mind, of heart, of life, of purposes, of desires, and 
of actions. Beautiful word because it inspires to 
greatness of character. Such a man is above a mean 
action. Should he make mistakes, he is quick to 
acknowledge them. A noble boy is one who is living 
up to a good understanding of what is noble. There 
are many traits of character to which noble is applied. 
If one is courageous or brave, he is called a "noble 
boy, because he fears nothing ;" but while he is noble 
in that way, he may be far from it from some other 
point of view. How we wish our sons to be noble, 
strong, great, and good. 

One may be noble yet few recognize it. He who is 
good and great does not seek to exhibit himself to the 
world. In the quiet of home are noble characters who 
are faithfully performing life's duties, bearing bur- 
dens, sorrows, denying self, and living day by day to 
the glory of God, yet known by few outside of their 
home. How good it is that all have the privilege of 
being noble and worthy of honor ! If it were confined 
to those who are worldly-wise, or of high standing, or 
of public prominence, few of those in the humble walks 



H0N0K, NOBLENESS, AND BEAUTY. 57 

of life would be able to attain to it. It is free to all, 
because it is nobleness of character and life, without 
regard to station or position. A noble life is an un- 
selfish one. It is lived to honor God and for the good 
of others. We may notice noble qualities in our ac- 
quaintances, which are very commendable, if put to a 
just and proper use. But how many use their en- 
dowments for selfish purposes which spoil the fruit- 
thereof ! 

Some want to be considered good by doing a great 
many creditable deeds without in reality being good 
and noble at heart. That is very superficial goodness. 
Another class of persons want to devote all their time 
and energy upon themselves, in order to obtain a cer- 
tain standard of blamelessness, and so neglect their 
duty to others. We need the grace of God to discern 
the proper standard of just and pure living. 

Another one of the words that means so much to me 
is beauty. "Oh," says one, "beauty is nothing." Yes 
it is, my friend ; true beauty is a great thing. The 
beautv of face and form, which is denied to most 
people, is not what is referred to, although no one 
should despise that, as it is a gift that comes from the 
£reat Creator's hand. In youthful davs beautv meant 
to me, a pretty face — soft, fair skin, bright eyes, rosy 
cheeks, and an abundance of nice hair as a soft back- 
ground. How many times has sadness filled my heart 
because it was not mine, and when I beheld a beauti- 
ful face mv eves would follow it in all its varied 
changes, as if to absorb every individual feature of 



58 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

its beauty. Often we do not stop to analyze our feel- 
ings, and wonder why we have certain desires. It is 
natural for the human heart to desire what it admires. 
If one is a lover of the beautiful and appreciates its 
worth, it is not strange that he should desire to have 
it as his own. What is the advantage of beauty of 
face ? Does one want it to give pleasure, or is it to 
attract attention to one's self ? The only true beauty 
of face exists where the possessor is perfectly uncon- 
scious of its charm, and the feelings and emotions are 
expressed with such unconcern and clearness, that the 
face seems to be an index to the heart of beauty. 
Some have fair complexion, fine eyes, and beautiful 
hair, and the face, in repose, seems to be perfect; but 
let worldliness have control, and many an evil shadow 
falls upon it, that robs it of its fairness. How many 
times we see a face that would be beautiful but for 
individual characteristics that spoil it. Whether 
pride, selfishness, fretfulness, discontent, ambition, 
hard-heartedness, or any other unholy characteristic, 
the most beautiful face would be clouded and lined 
by it. 

Many years have passed since I became willing to 
be considered "very plain-faced;" for beauty pro- 
duces a charm that requires great wisdom to use 
aright. How many times it has been the cause of its 
possessor's ruin can never be told. On every side we 
hear the cry, "My beauty was a snare that cast me 
down." Another saying is, "Beware of a pretty face." 
Surely the work of the Creator's hand is good if prop- 



HONOR, NOBLENESS, AND BEAUTY. 59 

erly used, and every one who possesses this gift should 
see that it glorifies God. Our sons need to consider 
this subject carefully and thus be so prepared that it 
does not prove a snare to them. Sometimes a young 
man thinks his face and appearance is a fortune to 
him, and he does not need to put forth the effort that 
others do to attain a position in life, but will trust to 
it to carry him through. It may do so, but it is at the 
cost of true manliness. 

There is a beauty that belongs to man, that is cer- 
tainly desirable; not because of its attractiveness to 
others, but because of its real worth. I refer to that 
beauty of heart, life, and face that is given by the sal- 
vation of Jesus. There may be many beautiful things 
in this world, but none to be compared to this. The 
salvation of Jesus removes sin from the heart with all 
its unlovely fruit, and implants therein love — love to 
God and to all mankind — which makes one kind, 
gentle, faithful, meek, submissive, unselfish, long- 
suffering, temperate, patient, reverential, liberal, 
courageous, and Godly. These blessed endowments 
show a heart of purity, and a life of holy living that 
transforms the plainest face into features of beauty. 
God himself will "beautify the meek with salvation." 

You have seen plain faces good looking and you 
could not tell why. To a mother surrounded by her 
clearly beloved children, there is imparted to the face 
an expression hallowed by mother love, which no artist 
has yet been able to correctly portray. Should she 
dwell on life's discouragements and weary of labor 



60 mothers' counsel to their sosrs, 

and care, the face as an index would quickly show it. 
Oh, that our privilege to lay all our burdens upon 
Jesus might encourage our boys to such purity of life 
during youthful years as to grow into manly looking 
men, without the blemish of impurity upon their 
features ! 

Did you ever notice the honest clearness in the eyes 
of some ? They look into ours with purity and trust- 
fulness. Under such scrutiny we quail and quake. 
Our hearts are awakened with consciousness of guilt, 
and then comes to us a longing to be better. Oh, 
that our eyes should be "windows of the soul" through 
which those in need may read silent messages of love, 
helpfulness, and courage. Have we pure hearts ? If 
we have, pray God that the expression of our faces, the 
intonation of our voices, and that our every action 
shall show it forth and thereby glorify God in heaven 
who gives it. 



As sinks the sun behind the hills, 
The earth with brightest tints it fills ; 
It lights yon cottage till it seems 
Too fair for aught but childish dreams. 



Canst see that young and noble maid 
Who watches now the tintings fade ? 
Canst see the holy light that beams, 
The noble purpose as it gleams 
From every feature of the face ? 
'Tis this that gives her charming grace. 



HONOR, NOBLENESS, AND BEAUTY. 61 

She stands and dreams, but seems to draw 
A lesson from each perfect law. 
M My work ! my work ! I wish I knew 
What now the Lord calls me to do ; 
For I must work for him, who gave 
His precious life, for me, to save." 

" I see it now, how sweet it seems, 
To shine for him as holy beams 
Of love, of truth, of peace, and grace 
Shall fill the heart and light the face, 
And help dear souls to home above, 
"Where all are blest in God of love." 



A love for the beautiful is one of the finest senti- 
ments of human nature. It should be cultivated bv 
allowing the heart and mind to be moved bv the beau- 
tiful in nature, and receive such lessons therefrom as 
will glorify the Creator. As we look upon the earth, 
wrapped in its garments of white, and each little snow 
crystal glows with rainbow tints under the shining 
sun, our souls drink in its loveliness, and we spon- 
taneously worship God who makes the heart of man 
"whiter than snow," and fills it with "the light of 
life," which causes it to shine for Jesus. As our eyes 
behold the earth with its carpet of green, and our 
senses feast upon its beauty such as stately trees, and 
lovely flowers, we are reminded that "Solomon in all 
his glory was not arrayed like one of these." The 
rose and lily speak in sweetest accents : C€ l am the rose 
of Sharon and the lilv of the valley." 



62 MOTHERS COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS, 



a 



The heavens declare the glory of God: and the 
firmament showeth his handiwork. Day unto day 
uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowl- 
edge/' The waves of the sea say as they roll the surf 
and wash the sand of the seashore : " Though thou 
walkest through the waters, they shall not overflow* 
thee ;" " He hath set a bound to the sea that it cannot 
pass over." And when the storm clouds hover over, 
the sweet voice of comfort murmurs, even amid the 
mighty roar of the winds : "He that dwelleth in the 
secret place of the Most High shall abide under the 
shadow of the Almighty" ; " Thou shalt not be afraid 
for the terror by night." 

As we look upon the great and high mountains, 
whose tops are laden with ice and snow, the voice of 
the Psalmist in the strength of consolation is : "Beau- 
tiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount 
Zion, on the sides of the north, the City of the Great 
King. God is known in her palaces for a refuge." 
Then Paul takes up the sweet song and says in love : 
"Ye are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of 
the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an 
innumerable company of angels, to the general as- 
sembly and church of the first-born, which are written 
in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the 
spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus." 

As the sun sinks from sight beyond the hills, and 
leaves its glorious light, tinting clouds, sky, and earth 
with splendor, the soul is filled with joy as it washes 
the close of life may be thus beautiful The words 



HOXOK, NOBLENESS, AND BEAUTY. 



63 



come ringing in our ears as rich and rare music : "The 
Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of 
thy mourning shall be ended." 



HOXOK. NOBLENESS,, AND BEAUTY, 



Then let us place around these words 
A halo bright and glowing, 
To say to all in ev'ry place, 
You now should stop the sowing 
Of all that mars the use of these, 
When of your life we're speaking — 
That honor bright and nobleness 
With beauty true you're seeking. 



EDUCATION. 



First among the ambitions of every boy should 
be to obtain a good education. It prepares him for 
much greater usefulness in life. God has made man 
a threefold being, consisting of body, mind, and soul. 
The three are so united that one cannot be neglected 
without seriously affecting *he others. The body 
should have proper care in order to preserve health 
and life. The mind must be cared for and developed 
in order that it may properly minister to soul and 
body. The soul should receive full consideration as 
the immortal part of our being. A man, in the true 
sense of manhood, never fails to properly care for the 
development of his spiritual nature. In turn, the 
developed spiritual being, greatly ennobles and per- 
fects the mind and body. 

As we study the many problems of life in the con- 
crete, it must be remembered that each individual 
problem is to be considered, as it bears upon the en- 
tire being, body, mind, and soul. Anything that in- 
jures one part affects the whole, and hinders the full 
carrying out of God's designs in relation to man, the 
noblest of his handiwork. How wonderfully man is 
formed, and what high and glorious possibilities lie 

64 



EDUCATION. 65 

before him. How necessary therefore that he live 
well the life given him. 

As a child begins to reason, a multitude of un- 
known things appear before him for solution. At 
first the world to him is chiefly the home circle; 
mother and father nearest, dearest, and best. His 
own wants and wishes absolutely rule his actions. As 
his will and desires are controlled and directed he 
begins to feel the power that contends against him, 
and gradually yields to the stronger will and enters 
a teachable and inquiring state. He now feeds upon 
what he can see, hear, feel, and learn from question- 
ing. The mind should be encouraged to activity and 
directed into proper channels. One of the first ex- 
periences impressed upon the memory is starting to 
school. His world begins to enlarge, books open up 
new fields of thought, and the mind acquires greater 
strength. Some are so awakened to effort that the mind 
bids fair to outrun the strength of the body, and must 
be held in check, that there be no hindrance to equal 
development. Many parents rejoice to see the mental 
activity of their children, and push them along as fast 
as possible, regardless of the physical condition, and 
are much surprised when dullness of perception oc- 
curs. Remarks made in regard to it often produce 
discouragement in the child and affect its whole 
future. So the mind should not be forced into greater 
activity than the health and strength of the child can 
bear. Other things being equal a healthy, strong 
bodv should be accompanied by strength of intellect 



66 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

How beautiful it is to notice the craving for instruc- 
tion that should be manifest in every intelligent child. 
It is essentially desirable that the instruction be such 
as will encourage them to the greatest usefulness. 
The information gained should, as far as possible, be 
put into daily use. "When a child learns to read, he 
should understand that what he has learned will en- 
able him to gain further knowledge. Books contain- 
ing useful information should be put into his hands, 
and daily use made of his ability to read. Many 
parents seem to think that reading, writing, and arith- 
metic are accomplishments that are to be laid aside for 
safe keeping, and work with hands should be the 
principal object of life. Children sometimes become 
tired of home, because it is to them only a dreary 
place for daily labor, when the mind and heart crave 
something more." We older people with our aims and 
objects before us as encouragement to our efforts 
should not forget that the children have need of the 
same as incentives and encouragement in labor and 
intellectual development. Many children love sport 
so well that unless thev are restricted, all their time 
will be spent in that way, to the neglect of the mind. 

With all the facilities for education that exist to- 
day, there is little excuse for ignorance. Any one 
who really wants an education and manifests that 
desire in making use of what opportunities he has will 
find friends and help to better things. Grood educa- 
tion and its proper use will solve many of the problems 
in life. Ignorance and vice too often go hand in hand. 



EDUCATION. 67. 

Many boys would have made their mark in the 
world if their natural abilities had been properly 
directed and educated. ISTot having their time oc- 
cupied in study, they sought other fields of activity, 
which generally led them downward to the gratifica- 
tion of fleshly lusts and desires. How it must grieve 
the Creator to see the work of his hands thus dis- 
honored ! Dear boys — whoever read these words — will 
you not encourage in yourselves, and all you meet 
in life's pathway, the desires of that better nature 
that craves useful knowledge ? 

We often read of men who have accomplished 
much for the good of nations or individuals, who had 
to gain their education under many difficulties; but 
through perseverance and the proper use of every 
opportunity they succeeded, and were made stronger 
men and thus prepared for the great works which they 
accomplished. 

Sometimes people seem to be educated above their 
surroundings, but it ought to elevate the most humble 
labor to have it done in the best manner that educated 
and thoughtful minds could conceive. Education un- 
applied is of small value to its possessor. Every one 
who has this blessing should endeavor to employ it as 
a talent entrusted to him for impirovement. 

Every station of activity and duty is better filled 
by educated men and women, if their wordly knowl- 
edge does not lift them above the teaching of Jesus 
Christ. An uneducated spiritual mother will fill her 
place better than one who is educated, but devoid of 



68 MOTHERS COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

the salvation of Jesus ; and this holds good in regard 
to fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons, as well as in 
every position in life. Those places that cannot be 
filled by those having salvation had better be left 
unfilled. Education is a great power that may be 
used for harm as well as for good; therefore it is 
necessary that the heart's education keep pace with 
that of the mind. 

The tendency of increased knowledge is to lift 
up into pride, which seeks not heavenly wisdom but 
often tries to overthrow it by the accumulated knowl- 
edge and teachings of men. The Bible says: " Not 
many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not 
many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the 
foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and 
God hath chosen the weak things of the world to con- 
found the things which are mighty." — 1 Cor. 1:2 6 e 
27. Also, " The wisdom of this world is foolishness 
with God." A few people understand this to teach 
that it is not best to seek an education, and permit 
their children to grow up in ignorance; and point to 
their lack of education as an evidence of humility. 
An uneducated person, because of his lack of knowl- 
edge, may assume and take responsibilities for wdiich 
he is altogether unfitted, while one with greater edu- 
cation, is capable of understanding the actual great- 
ness of the responsibilities, and would not feel qualified 
to assume them. I do not wish to be understood, 
however, that education always prepares one to fill 
a position of usefulness. 



EDUCATION. 69 

It is the belief of many, that every minister of the 
gospel should be well educated in all branches of 
worldly knowledge, but often some one with very 
little learning accomplishes more for God and the 
salvation of souls than those more perfectly educated. 
A number of the early Christian workers were un- 
learned men, yet ably filled the place to which God 
called them. Still one of the greatest " was educated 
at the feet of Gamaliel." 

Education, therefore, is good, and should be sought 
after by the young, who should improve every oppor- 
tunity, but withal, be in perfect subjection to the 
grace of God in the heart. An educated worker in the 
vineyard of the Lord should realize just as much de- 
pendence upon God for help, and the anointing of the 
Holy Spirit for sendee as one who is not educated. 
It is not fine language, grammatical sentences, oratory, 
nor logic that wins souls to Christ ; but the Spirit of 
God using the precious truths of his word and apply- 
ing them to the heart in such love and power as to 
convict of sin, of righteousness, and of the judgment 
to come. Still the anointing of the Spirit may em- 
ploy fine language, grammatical sentences, oratory, 
and logic, for the good of souls in carrying them be- 
yond themselves unto the mighty power and truth of 
God. Some precious souls must have truth so pre- 
sented to the mind that it is convinced beyond doubt 
of that truth, before the heart can be touched by the 
Spirit in applying the truth for individual benefit; 
while others yield easily to the work of the Spirit 



70 MOTHEES' COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

upon the heart, and receive the truth in experience 
without a full comprehension of the mind. In order 
to meet the different needs of individuals God sends 
whom he will and where he will, and each worker 
should have a glad Yes in his heart for every call to 
service; as God cares for the result, as that is his 
business, if we are careful to do our part in his fear. 

Young people should never yield to a " don't-care " 
spirit in regard to any useful knowledge. Here is a 
young man who was careless at school and did not 
learn to spell well. Other branches of common- 
school education have been faithfully mastered; so he 
enters business with good prospects of success. He 
soon has need of correspondence with business men, 
and his poor spelling is the cause of some trouble and 
vexation; but he throws it off with the assurance, " I 
never could spell correctly, even when in school." 
How much better to provide himself with a pocket 
dictionary, and when writing refer to it for the doubt- 
ful words, and then mark them and in spare moments 
commit them to memory by repetition orally and in 
writing. It may be some trouble at first and seem 
like an endless job; but perseverance works wonders, 
and before he is aware the bugbear of bad spelling 
is overcome and he has gained much in several ways. 

Some will not write letters because they do not 
compose as well as others, or do not know how to 
punctuate or use capitals properly; and thus they lose 
one of the finest opportunities of happiness and use- 
fulness. How much comfort, gladness, and good a 



EDUCATION. 



71 



nice letter may give our friends can not be realized 
by those who have not stopped to consider. Letter- 
writing, as all else, should be done thoroughly, with 
the purpose of helping others, receiving good our- 
selves, and thus for the glory of God. Anything 
that is worth doing is worth doing well, and God is 
willing to give us time to do properly whatever he 
calls us to do. This he taught to me in a very forcible 
manner a number of years ago. The Lord had filled 
me with his Spirit and there was a great care for 
souls resting upon my heart. I did not stop to con- 
sider everything carefullv, but, as I felt the need of 
doing all I could to help others to the Lord, I allowed 
myself to feel in a great hurry to get the housework 
done, to be ready for other labor. One dav I was 
washing, and had hurried all forenoon to get through 
but had a few garments to rinse after dinner. As I 
was hastening in this last effort over the wash, my 
baby girl came near, and as I put in the last gar- 
ment to wring, she laid her little hand on the cogs 
and in an instant I had run her thumb through, 
cruelly mashing it. I took the child in my arms 
with the consciousness that I was blamable. Her 
father was called and everything done to relieve her 
suffering, without success. Then the thought came. 
" Take her to the Lord in prayer." I took her in my 
arms and fled away to a. chamber to be alone with 
God. As I laid her on the bed and knelt by her side, 
I was conscious there was something for me tt) learn 
in it, and so asked the Lord to teach me what he 



72 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

would; and then heal my child. The day's labor 
came before me, and I saw it was because of my great 
haste that the accident had happened, and then the 
Lord spoke to me in this way: " If I want you to do 
anything, I will give you time to do it." Then I saw 
that the washing, as my necessary work, was what he 
had given me to do, and in hurrying it overmuch I 
had neglected other work he had given me, also the 
care of my children. The lesson was learned in an 
instant and then the Lord healed the child, and in a 
moment she was asleep. I moved and pressed the 
thumb without her moving or showing the least sign 
of pain, and she never complained of it again; al- 
although it received several knocks from herself, and 
it was several days before it was entirely well. 

Many fail to do what God wants them to, because 
they do not make use of their opportunities to pre- 
pare themselves, and feel too hurried to use the neces- 
sary carefulness. Often since then I have noted 
failures on this line, and have seen how it hindered 
God's work. We should ever " be diligent in busi- 
ness," that is, lose no time unnecessarily ; but not to 
rush things as the world does. - Overhaste is sure to 
produce inferior service. 

There are boys and girls who are giving themselves 
to the service of the Lord, whose hearts are filled with 
earnest longings to help others into the love of God. 
Their opportunities of usefulness seem limited, and 
they wonder what they can do to help in the gospel 
work. Each one should be careful and observing not 



EDUCATION. ?3 

to neglect any chance for present usefulness, and then 
use every opportunity to prepare for the future by 
earnest study of the word of God, secret devotion, 
and diligent effort for the acquirement of useful 
knowledge that shall prepare for a wider sphere of 
unselfish service. God will greatly bless and help 
them in strengthening their minds and memories, and 
in directing into right channels of knowledge. 

If every Christian, old and young, were more in- 
tent upon obtaining, retaining, and using knowledge 
and wisdom aright and for God's glory, there would 
be greater activity and more efficient workers for the 
good of souls, and heathen lands would soon hear of 
Jesus the Redeemer, 

Then let there be no idle days, 

No moments, and no years, 

To pass in careless joy or ease, 

In sinful doubts or fears, 

To keep us from enchanted ground 

Of knowledge pure and true ; 

But live and learn, then learn and live ; 

And ever find it new, 

To prove the lessons that we learn 

Are helping others too. 



HABITS. 



Anything persisted in for a length of time becomes 
a" habit. If one rises for a few weeks at an early 
hour, it becomes so natural to awaken at that time 
that he has gained the habit of early rising, which is 
a*Very good one and will be a great blessing all 
through life. If one accustoms himself to retiring 
late and rising late he is termed a keeper of " late 
hours," which is many times a great hindrance to his 
advancement in usefulness, and is therefore a bad 
habit. 

The power of repetition is great. Let one who is 
not a musician learn to play one tune ; as soon as he 
seats himself at an instrument of music his fingers 
almost involuntarily take the positions learned, and 
what seems to have no place in memory is felt in the 
hands as they move from key to key. The mind also 
requires habits of rest and of action, according to use. 
If study occupies certain hours of the day, it turns 
to that employment at the regular hours, but if light 
reading is indulged in, it longs for that, and will not 
take easily to earnest application. So we see the 

74 



EDUCATION. 75 

necessity of being careful in our actions, not to form 
such habits as will be harmful to us in later years. 

There are some habits that we want to talk about 
for a while because they are so full of evil and yet 
look so innocent to many people, and we hope our 
sons will not lightly pass over whatever is made clear 
to them as against these habits. 

We will take them up about as they generally ap- 
pear in boys' lives. You know there comes a time in 
many of their lives when they begin to think they 
are " getting most too big to listen to mother's lec- 
tures/' meaning mother's quiet talks encouraging 
them in good things. They begin to feel that the 
world laughs at many good things, and think it bet- 
ter to follow after " some things that are not too 
good/' Did you ever realize why that feeling conies ? 
It is because they think that evil things are manly, 
and good things are womanly, or babyish. Many 
mothers teach their children to pray, and encourage 
them in it until they begin to be ashamed to be found 
praying; and as they are a little rebellious, mothers 
give up, with the assurance, " Well, I have taught 
you to pray ; and now if you don't do it, the fault will 
be yours." Unbelief is strong and comes against the 
children as well as against the older ones and should 
be driven back by the teaching of God's word, which 
is the giver of faith ; for " faith cometh by hearing. 
and hearing by the word of God." 

One of the first evil habits which appears attrac- 
tive to boys is " bad words " which they use when 



76 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

parents are not near. These words are sometimes 
dirty words that are unfit to be spoken by any one, 
much less the sons of loving mothers. 

Sometimes they are slang phrases which mean 
more than boys comprehend. I remember hearing a 
child use an evil expression several times after being 
reproved for it. So I called her to me and asked her 
why she used those evil words. She said all the chil- 
dren at school used them to one another. Then I 
told her if she would be sure not to use them again, I 
would tell her what they meant; and oh, how sur- 
prised and disgusted she looked as she said, " I 
never thought such ugly things could be in such little 
words " ! Never afterwards was she heard to use 
them. 

Now, boys, if the use of "bad words" makes boys 
appear more manly, why do you not use them when in 
the society of grown people ? Says one, "I only use 
them when mad at something." Well, if that is man- 
ly, why do you not do that before friends ? Now do 
you not see that you do know it is wrong and your con- 
science reproves you for doing so; and that is what 
makes you want to be alone when you use them, or 
with those who encourage to do evil ? 

While teaching school I had very much trouble with 
my schoolboys on this line until I adopted a certain 
kind of punishment. In my desk I kept a cup, a 
piece of soap, and little cloths ; and when any one was 
heard to use impure language he was called in and 
given a little talk on how filthiness of language de- 



HABITS. 77 

filed a person, and as the mouth was the offending 
member, it must be thoroughly washed with good soap- 
suds. They would think it so strange to punish that 
way that big and little would take it quietly at my 
hands, and go away looking much ashamed ; and as I 
have met them in later years they always remembered 
me as "the teacher who washed our mouths for ' bad 
words/ " and some acknowledge great benefits there- 
from as an impressive object lesson on impure speech. 
If the mouth is thus defiled by the evil passing from 
it, how much more impure must be the heart that 
holds the evil in readiness for. some opportunity to 
emit its poison to defile some innocent mind with evil 
thoughts ! The heart is the fountain of all evil, and 
if it is washed clean and made pure by the blood of 
Christ, then there will be no trouble with " bad 
words " coming forth at evervthirio; that would annov. 

As a bov gets accustomed to the use of bad words 
he is soon ready for something stronger and so takes 
up " swearing," and tries to feel quite big when he 
" can swear like a man." 

Oh, how many times he has to fight his conscience 
for hours, and feels so mean he would be glad if 
mother would not look at him or speak words of love 
to him. Oh, that mothers were always wise and 
would know what was the trouble and help the boys to 
stand against evil habits, by being strong for right and 
having decision for the boys. Half the trouble comes 
from parents not commanding the boys and girls with 
real decision that is felt by them. 



Y8 M0THEKS ? COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

You may ask, "Why is swearing wrong ?" Because 
it is irreverence for God when he has told us to love 
him with all our heart, mind, and strength. If any- 
one loves another, he is not going to speak lightly of 
that one or bring his name into contempt of others. 
All those who have read the Bible or heard of God's 
love and mercy have no excuse for profaning his holy 
name, or sacred things of truth and righteousness. 
One who has been brought up in such an atmosphere 
of irreverence and ungodliness as never to hear that 
precious name used but in derision and scorn, should 
make inquiry into the matter until he knows what he 
is doing and why he is doing it. Because of careless 
indifference many are in ignorance of very important 
things which pertain to life and godliness. With 
Bibles scattered broadcast over the countries of civili- 
zation, and millions of professing Christians, is it not 
strange that there should be so many poor perishing 
people who never have heard the name of God or the 
Savior Jesus spoken but in words of cursing ? Does 
every one or any one try to tell all they can of the 
power in the name of Jesus to save from all sin and 
wickedness ? Oh, I fear many of us are but unfaith- 
ful servants who are feasting ourselves instead of feed- 
ing the hungry. How many of our sons will make the 
resolve that by the help of God, whenever they hear 
one using these names in profanity they will ask the 
ones so doing if they are aware that there is power 
enough in those names to save and purify from all sin 
every human being who has ever lived or will live 



HABITS. 



?9 



upon this earth, and thus prepare them for a more 
glorious one ? And oh, our boys, can it be possible, 
with this great and glorious truth known unto you, 
that you will be so unwise, so rebellious, as to pass it 
by unheeded and lift your voices in scorn of those 
names that are able to still by a single touch the 
tongue that speaks so boldly ? " Beware — take care." 

Many of the sons to whom we are talking have some 
good person of their acquaintance for whom they have 
great respect. Perhaps it is father, mother, grand- 
father or grandmother, uncle or aunt, a preacher or 
a friend. Now, you who are learning to use " bad 
words' 7 or to swear, what would you think of that 
good person if he or she should do as you do, use dirty, 
bad words or swear ? "Oh," says one, "I know father 
or mother wouldn't do so : but then, John does when 
he drives the horses and cows." Well, young man, 
whom do vou respect the most — vour father and 
mother, or John, whom you have only known about two 
months ? "Oh, my father and mother, of course ; for 
they are just as good folks as ever lived." "Well, if 
that is so, why do you not pattern after them instead 
of after John ?" "Oh, I don't know ; I never thought 
very much about it before in that way." 

Another boy says, "Why, 'twould be awful to hear 
our dear old grandpa or grandma swear — why, just 
think how sweet and good they talk all the time ! It 
makes me think of heaven every time I sit and talk 
with them, and they always speak so lovingly of 
Jesus and God. Oh, I'd feel awful bad to hear either 



80 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

of them use swearing words. But then, there was that 
butcher, who bought our cows ; when he came for them 
he just swore a streak, and snapped his whip and acted 
as big as anybody could : and I've heard folks say he's 
a good man — gives lots of meat to poor folks, and 
saves the best pieces for sick people, and gives lots of 
money to everything that is good. It seems some- 
times that there are two kinds of good people." Yes, 
dear boy, there are two kinds of people who are 
thought to be good. The first kind are those who love 
God and do his will and live humbly before him, like 
your grandpa and grandma. Then there are those 
who do many good things, like the butcher, are kind to 
the poor and sick, and help on good efforts by giving 
their money liberally. Yet, could you think he loved 
God and was trying to please him when he would use 
his name profanely % 

There are many people like him, w T ho are good 
when they want to be and bad when they want to be- 
good in one way and bad in another. But God's 
people are always good ; for he keeps them so ; and 
the other class are no better before God than their 
very worst actions make them; and for them they 
must suffer, unless they repent and forsake the wrong. 

This boy says earnestly : " Look here ! my Aunt 
Mary is just the nicest little woman in the world, and 
I'd just as soon think of angels swearing as to think 
of her doing it. Why ! she wouldn't be 'our Aunt Mary' 
if she'd ever talk the least bit bad. But then, when 
Uncle Sam and I went fishing the other day you ought 



HABITS. 81 

to have heard him swear when his foot slipped into 
the water — he just looked at it, then at the ugly place 
on the bank, then at the dirt on his pants ; and then 
he just swore like a good fellow. When we went home 
and grandma saw it, she said, ' Why, Sammie, how 
did that happen ? ' and before he could answer she 
had a cloth and was cleaning the mud from his pants, 
saying, ' My poor boy ; I suspect you got angry again.' 
He laughed and said, i I should think I did.' She 
looked sad, but kissed him and told him to ' be a good 
boy and please mother.' She loves him very much, 
so I guess he can't be very bad, if he does swear : and 
he's so brave, he isn't afraid of anything ; and brave 
men are called noble men, so I'd like to be a man like 
my Uncle Sam." Did you ever think how boys begin 
to copy after the bad traits of character rather than 
the good ? Xow this boy who wants to be like Uncle 
Sam will begin by taking up his bad habits of getting 
angry and swearing and perhaps using tobacco, in- 
stead of cultivating his courage into true bravery. 

Here is a young man who uses the strongest and 
vilest language when with his rough companions, but 
he would not like to have " my little Xellie " know he 
ever used any but the very best language, which he 
uses when in company with her. He knows she would 
be shocked if any one should tell her ; so he hopes no 
one will, and after a while when everything is settled 
he will move to the next town and make a nice home 
and give up these boys and rough talk. 

So you see boys and young men do have a real re- 



82 MOTHERS 5 COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

gard for what is good and pure, and yet they think it 
manly to do just the opposite. Do you not think, 
boys, that it looks a little childish to manifest such a 
desire for manliness as to take up such things to show 
it off ? Can you not wait a few more years and let 
height, strength, and wisdom show you have attained 
manhood ? And what shall we do for you to convince 
you that the good man is the manly one, because he 
has the courage to do right ? 

The next bad habit is " doing ugly things for fun." 
Treading on dresses, looking innocent, begging par- 
don, and laughing over it with the boys. Filling the 
girls' rubbers with balls of mud, and then laughing 
and teasing when the girls get cross and " wish that 
boy would show his smartness some other way." Pin- 
ning mother's apron-strings to her chair, and " laugh- 
ing fit to kill " when she turns it over as she rises from 
it. Putting the saddle on wrongside to, when bring- 
ing up the horse for father, on a dark night. Thus 
keeping the entire family on the lookout for pranks 
and jokes. While some say " boys will be boys," and 
try to laugh off the annoyance and care, any one can 
see that such boys bring more sorrow than joy by their 
childish doings in search for fun, and will be glad 
when they get too big for such amusement. 

Another very bad habit is telling falsehoods just to 
have people argue, and then finally admit the truth 
and " wonder why folks must always believe a body 
when in fun." So it continues until no one believes 
him under the strongest assurance, and he has formed 



HABITS. 83 

a habit that will cling to him as long as he lives, unless 
broken by the power of salvation. Those who play 
with fire must expect to get burned. This is one of 
the most disagreeable habits, as it extends to every 
part of life, entering into the happiness and welfare 
of friends and acquaintances. It is one of the most 
dishonorable practices any one can enter into. It may 
begin in play, continue in carelessness, and become 
a settled disposition, arising from an evil heart and a 
sinful practice. 

There are more evil habits that we must talk about 
separately in order to examine into them carefully so 
our sons will shun them and avoid much trouble and 
sorrow for the future. 

As the power of repetition is great it works for 
good just as strongly as for evil. . Good deeds repeated 
for some time become easy to perform. It may seem 
hard to take up a line of duty for a while, but as it is 
persevered in the nature becomes accustomed to it and 
it becomes easy and pleasant. Then may we not hope 
that some of the boys will learn such good ways as will 
make them a blessing wherever they go I How nice it 
is to see a good, kind, thoughtful, pleasant, well-man- 
nered boy, who is respectful to his elders and reveren- 
tial toward sacred things. 

" The habit of ill-doing requires less effort than the 
habit of well-doing. Even without effort we fall 
naturally into the way of being wrong and doing 
wrong. Going down hill is always the easiest way 
going. But well-doing requires effort; for it is up- 



84 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

hill work." The reason for this is that we have sinful 
hearts that naturally incline toward evil-doing, and 
that is why evil ways are more attractive than good 
ways. Then, perhaps, some one may think, " Well, 
we are not responsible for that." Yes, every one is 
responsible after he knows right from wrong, and 
should guide his footsteps into right paths, even 
though it require much effort. The greater the effort 
needed the greater necessity for the effort, as that 
shows the strength of the evil nature. 

Few individuals expect to spend their lives in 
evil habits and ways. They think they can do what 
they want to and stop when they wish. Many 
a young man will look in contempt upon an 
older one who will acknowledge his bondage to 
evil ways, and firmly assure him : " If you 
want to, you can stop; for what one wants 
to do, he surelv can." Some of course have 
stronger will-power and endurance than others, but 
there are many habits that bind with fetters of iron 
the victims of their allurements. As an illustration of 
this power, take a boy and cast a thread around his 
arms to pinion them to his side, and with a slight effort 
he breaks the band and sets himself free. Cast the 
thread a few times around them, and still he can 
quickly deliver himself ; but let it be cast around him 
twenty times and he begins to see that there is a pos- 
sibility of becoming so entangled that he cannot do so. 
Let the slender thread cover his entire body, and he 
is as firmly bound as if he were tied with heavy and 



HABITS* 85 

strong cords. Applying this to evil habits, one who 
smokes, chews, or drinks a few times a week may for 
a week feel no bondage to them and may be able to 
break away from them as the boy tied with a single 
thread; but let it be repeated each week for a month 
and he may begin to see danger ahead. Let it con- 
tinue a year, perhaps two, and one can generally see 
that there is small desire to be free, as the evils 
become so pleasurable that the will is captured. 
Sometimes conscience arises to action and gains the 
consent of the will that it is wise to stop. Then begins 
a battle of will against habit strengthened by effects 
of poison in the system. Generally it is an unequal 
contest and habit is winner. The bov bound by 
threads mav easilv be set free by a friend with knife 
or scissors. So those bound bv habits mav be set free 
by the friend of sinners. Jesus Christ, for his salva- 
tion breaks every bond and sets the captive free-. 

Here is a little letter on this subject that ought to 
open some one's eyes to see the need of keeping clear 
from evil habits. 



Dear Boys: I feel like writing you a letter to give 

you the benefit of my experience. When I was about 

sixteen years old the suggestion came to me, "You 

should learn to smoke." I listened to the evil voice 

f temptation, and began to cultivate the habit. At 



86 mothers' counsel to theiii sons. 

first I only smoked one cigar a week, and that an 
Saturday evening. In a short time I wanted to smoke 
more often ; so bought a pipe and smoked several times 
a week. The habit grew on me, and after a while I 
was a perfect slave to it. Then I began to see the 
evil and resolved to quit, but it had such a hold upon 
me that I could not get free. In the meantime I had 
cultivated the habit of playing cards. It was begun 
just for pastime, but afterwards I wanted to play for 
money, and this habit also grew upon me as the 
tobacco habit; also playing billiards and pool — they 
are all veiry evil habits, and it is a very hard matter 
to get rid of them. I tried several times to get rid 
of these habits that I had taken up and cultivated, 
but without success. At last I resolved to get free 
from these bonds of the Devil by getting free from 
him. So I gave myself to the Lord, and when I met the 
conditions of his word he accepted me as his child, 
giving me grace to set me free. Thus was I delivered 
from my habit. But it is easier to bend a twig than 
a tree; so it is easier to come to the Lord before one 
becomes entangled with these ungodly habits. While 
praising the Lord for this deliverance, my prayers are 
ascending for you, that you may be thus blessed with 
this perfect and free salvation. 

iYour brother in Christ, 
Lewis E. Smith. 



HABITS. 87 



HABITS. 

Thus these habits one by one 
Form a chain around thee, son; 
Break it quickly and be free, 
Ere it's welded fast to thee. 

If you do not, then you may 
Be a slave, and rue the day 
When you first began to do 
" Just like others " that you knew. 

Did you ever think, my boy, 
While you hope to find a joy 
In each one, of habits bad, 
That you make your mother sad ? 

Do you think it good and kind, 
Hunting joy, to ever bind 
Sadness, pain, and heavy care 
On to her whose love you share ? 

May these habits one by one 
All be "let alone," my son, 
Proving manhood, strength, and will 
Keep thee free, and ever fill 

Mother's heart with joy and praise, 
That will bless thee all thy days, 
Please thy God, and help thee seek 
Purer joys among the meek. 

Purer joy in higher ways, 
Purer hours, and better days, 
Purer life, and sweeter breath, 
Purer friends, and happy death. 



THE TOBACCO HABIT. 



An evil habit that often fascinates the boys is the 
use of tobacco. Why it should appear nice to them is 
a mystery to me, as the very appearance of chewing 
and smoking has always been so repulsive to me that 
I had to exert myself to avoid indifference toward the 
users of the disagreeable stuff. Nevertheless it is 
true that many boys do see something manly in chew, 
chew, and spit, spit, and in smelling strong and un- 
pleasant. They generally have a ha;'d time in learn- 
ing to use it, as it makes them sick. If they had to 
work half so hard to please father as they do to be- 
come accustomed to the filthy weed, they would think 
him very unkind. So you see, they will do more to 
acquire a bad habit than they would to please a good 
friend. 

Surely the Bible is true when it says, "Foolishness 
is bound up in the heart of a child." And shall we 
mothers just as firmly believe that "the rod of cor- 
rection shall drive it far from him" ? There is not 
the decision used against these things that there 
should be. If some one were to offer a deadly poison 
to our children, we would raise up in all the strength 
of parental love and protect them from it : but when 
some one tempts them to use the poisonous weed, 

88 



THE TOBACCO HABIT. 89 

many dear parents assume the attitude of helplessness 
and say, "Well, I suppose he will learn some time, like 
the majority of boys do; so there is no use feeling bad 
about it or making any fuss." If parents will restrain 
them until they get to years of manhood, they may 
then be so well instructed in regard to its evil work- 
ings as to count it safer and better to "let it alone." 
After it is an acquired habit it is almost impossible 
to break, as its effects are all through the system so 
that the entire being craves its continuance. There 
are a few who " leave off tobacco," but they are very 
few. If we ask those who use it why they do not quit 
its use, manv will sav candidlv, " I cant. I have 
tried to, but there is such a craving for it, that I am in 
distress until I use it again." Is that a fine picture 
of manhood ? Is that personal liberty that is valued 
so highly ? Dear bovs, is that reallv where vou wish 
to be all through life ? Is that vour ambition while 
you are learning \ Is that not bondage ; and if bond- 
age, is not tobacco master ? And if it is master, who 
is the slave ? Xow, if vou were mv bovs and I knew 
you were learning to use it, I would keep these words 
in letters large in every available place so your eyes 
should see them until they rested upon heart and mind 
in letters of fire — Tobacco Slave. Where is the 
boasted manliness of such a condition I Bound to 
chew or smoke no matter how offensive it is to father 
or mother, brothers or sisters, wife or children. 
Bound to use it and pay out money for it no matter 
if the dear ones go without sufficient food or raiment. 



90 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

Must have it, when the children are obliged to stay 
away from school from lack of shoes and books. Must 
have it, although what is spent for it in a few years 
would provide a comfortable home for the dear ones. 
Must have it, even if it causes all manner of disease 
and suffering and makes weak hands provide for a 
fatherless family of little ones. Must have it, though 
its use causes one to lose his soul because he loves it 
more than God. Oh, the heathenish god Tobacco! 
How it stirs our souls with holy indignation to hear 
people complaining about hard times, having no 
home, no clothes, no food ; and yet using from five to 
fifty dollars a year for that which does not answer for 
food or anything else that is good. 

"Well," says one, " it is work, work, work, all the 
time to provide for the family and one ought to have 
a little pleasure as he goes along. My tobacco is great 
company to me." How is that ? I never heard any- 
one say that their food and drink were great company 
to them. If it is the movement of the mouth in chew, 
chew, and spit, spit, you might use elm bark, or 
wheat, or corn, or anything else that is good and nour- 
ishing. You say, "I can't ; for nothing suits me but 
tobacco." Now, can you not see, dear boys, that it is 
the effect of chewing that is pleasurable just the 
same as the effect of drinking liquor is pleasurable to 
the drunkard ? 

Yes, many are really tobacco drunkards. As the 
effect of liquor upon the human system while plea- 
surable for a short time, is very injurious, so also is 



THE TOBACCO HABIT. 91 

tobacco ; for its use creates a craving for it that can 
not be satisfied by anything else, and in a degree im- 
pairs the system and prevents the natural working of 
different parts. We are sorry to be obliged to write 
so plainly about this pet and idol of many of our sons, 
and yet facts are facts, and it may do some good to 
state them plainly. 

Come, boys, let us stand Mr. Tobacco up for trial, 
and see what the evidence is against him, and if there 
is sufficient to convict him as a fraud, a swindler, and 
a murderer, then we will all bid him good-by and 
choose a better friend. We will have volunteer wit- 
nesses and lay the case before all the boys of the world 
as jurymen. It is a great case, greater than if all 
the wealth of the world were at stake ; for there are 
souls, virtue, loved ones, prosperity, and many lives 
depending upon the decision of our sons. 

Now let the boys talk. Who will be the first wit- 
ness ? That is right, John ; we will be glad to hear 
what you have to say about Mr. Tobacco. 

(John) — My father is a great hand to figure up the 
cost of everything, as he says that is business. One 
day I asked him how long he had used tobacco. He 
said, " Just forty years last Christmas. Would you 
like to know how much it has cost me ? I counted it 
up on New Year's day when figuring up our expense-. 
Of course I can not be very exact, as I don't just re- 
member what I used at first. T was fifteen years old 
when Uncle John gave me the first chew on Christmas 
when mother and I went to her father's for dinner. 



92 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

Uncle John and I were in the barn looking around 
when he took out his tobacco and took a chew, saying, 
' I guess you're about as big as I was when I learned 
to chew. How would you like to have a taste V I 
said, 'Mother does not want me to learn.' He laughed 
and broke off a piece and put it in my pocket, saying, 
' Now when you want to you can.' We walked 
around the barn-yard talking, and when he took 
his next chew I took just a little nibble at mine, 
and so on until dinner was called. I did not 
feel just right, but went in to dinner, and just 
as soon as I entered the warm room and 
smelled the victuals, I turned dizzy and faint and 
went back to the barn and oh, how sick I was ! No 
Christmas dinner with grandpa and grandma and no 
long miserable day — just able to> drive home for 
mother and then go to bed and have her wait on me 
most all night. But I kept chewing a little every 
week until I could chew as big as anybody. At first, 
ten cents a week was all it cost me. Mother had been 
giving me that much a week for building fires in the 
morning; so I could have something of my own to 
give for Sunday-school and mission purposes — as I 
had done until I learned to chew. Then it went for 
tobacco ; so that was about five dollars a year. Then 
when I went to school in town I chored for my board 
and was given fifty cents a week for spending money. 
I used this for candy and tobacco; but most of it 
went for tobacco ; as I had so learned to love it that 
I would rather have it than candy. That was when 



THE TOBACCO HABIT. 93 

I was seventeen. So we will count that year $15, 
and that amount for my eighteenth and nineteenth 
years. I remember quite well that in my twentieth 
year I spent just $20 for tobacco, and was quite 
proud of it. After that it was about $25, until my 
30th year, when it was $30, and about that much for 
a number of years ; and now for the last ten years it 
has been about $40. So I counted it up, and I had 
spent $1,175." 

Now, boys, that was just enough to buy a farm that 
father wanted to purchase for me, but could not as 
he did not think it right to mortgage the home to do 
so. I laughed when father told me how much to- 
bacco had cost him, and told him he " had chewed up 
my farm." He said, " Yes, it has been a tough job ; 
for I have chewed myself sick several times. That 
last sickness was caused by the tobacco in my system, 
the doctor said ; and he advised me to stop if possible ; 
but here I am, bound to it by fetters I can't break. 
That sickness cost me a hundred dollars, beside all 
vour mother's hard work and care ; but if all this will 
only influence you to let it alone, I shall be satisfied.'' 
I told my father I had heard some preachers claim 
that religion could stop the use of tobacco by taking 
away the appetite. I soon noticed him reading the 
Bible more than usual, and then when summer came 
lie went to a camp-meeting and came home praising 
God for freedom from tobacco; because the appetite 
for it was all gone. Then he wanted me to promise 
him that I would never learn to use it. Tie said that 



94 MOTHERS COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

if I would not use 1 it, when I became twenty-five years 
old he would give 1 me all I saved thereby, a:t compound 
interest at 10 per cent, I have counted it up and it 
will be a little over $300 if used just as he used it. 
Now $300 is a good large sum just to spend to look 
like others, who might make fun about being a "gotody, 
goody boy." Don't you think so, boys ? 

Thank you, John, for your nice little talk and for 
the figures you give that are stronger than words. 
Now, boys, how many of you think this evidence 
counts one against Mr. Tobacco on the line of finance ? 
Why ! we cannot count all your hands ; so we are sure 
it carries, and a good many of you will think many 
times before you will agree to chew up that much 
money for nothing, but pain and sorrow. If you 
worked for a dollar a day at hard farm labor, you 
would have to work just one year to make up the loss 
for chewing until you were twenty-five years old. Oh, 
how awful; to waste our lives in such ways. Now, 
who comes next as a witness in this case ? Oh, here 
is Dr. Smith's son Henry ready with a testimony. 

(Henry) — Yes, boys, I am always ready to give a 
word against old Tobacco. As my father is a doctor, 
he tells me some things that are real interesting, and 
sometimes tries experiments. Tobacco is a plant 
that was found growing here when America was dis- 
covered. It has been one of its chief articles of agri- 
culture and commerce, and is now cultivated in near- 
ly every civilized country. There is a story told of 
the early settlers buying their wives of the London 



THE TOBACCO HABIT. 95 

Company for a hundred pounds of tobacco at 50cts. 
a pound, for each one. Then afterward it was 150 
pounds. I often think of this when I see girls taking 
up with men who chew and smoke, when there are 
far better ones who do not use tobacco. It seems as 
if they must like it some way, even though they say 
they do not. Father says it is agreed among scien- 
tific men that tobacco in all its forms contains a very 
strong poison, and there are from two to seven pounds 
of this nicotine poison in every hundred pounds of 
dry leaf tobacco. Father keeps a small bottle of this 
poison, and one day as we were riding in the country 
we saw several boys just ready to kill a snake. 
Father called to them to wait a moment, and we drove 
up close and he got out and held the snake with sticks 
and then told one of the boys to spit his tobacco juice 
into its mouth. What do y6u think happened to it ? 
It just twitched a little, half uncoiled its body, and 
never moved again. It was dead in an instant. The 
boys looked so surprised that father asked them if 
they had anything they wanted killed real easy, and 
one boy said, u Yes, there is a stray cat that catches 
chickens." So father told him to get it quick, and 
in a few moments he returned with it. Father said 
it was too bad to kill a cat, but maybe a lesson might 
be learned that would save some one's life, and there- 
fore he would do it. He took out his bottle of nico- 
tine oil and put two drops on the cat's tongue and it 
was dead in just three minutes by my watch. Then 
father told the boys that every pound of tobacco con- 



96 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

tained 320 grains of nicotine and one grain would 
kill a large dog just as quick as the cat had been 
killed. The boys were so interested that father told 
them to come to our house and he would show them 
something more. So they came last Saturday and 
* he had a couple of frogs, several mice and rats, a 
snake, and several birds. We called in our neigh- 
bors, and had quite a time observing different things. 
A small piece of wood covered with nicotine oil and 
placed in a small wound in a bird's leg made it fall 
insensible in a few seconds, and another one vomited 
when a little oil was touched to its muscles. The rats 
and mice acted very strangely when father pierced 
them with hisi penknife that had a little oil on it. 
Some vomited, others were too sick to stand, and one 
fell over dead. Then father took a needle and thread 
that had been dipped in the oil, and ran it through 
the skin of a frog, and in a few minutes it was dead; 
but it acted like a drunken person, vomiting, hopping 
about fast as possible, and then lying down and twitch- 
ing awf ully for a moment, and then became insensible 
and soon was dead. When father got through, the 
boys all looked sober, and he asked them what they 
were going to do about it? Two of the boys said 
firmly: "I'll never chew again; for if that awful 
poison is in the body, it cannot help doing us harm 
some time." Several of my neighbor friends did not 
speak; for they were wandering if they could give it 
up. The next day two of them told me they were 
trying hard, and if they succeeded they were going to 



THE TOBACCO HABIT. 97 

make my father a nice present. It is almost a week 
now and they say they have not taken a single chew. 
I believe they will come out all right, for I told my 
mother about them and she talked with their mothers 
concerning it, and so every morning they pray to- 
gether for the boys. I never knew before how 
mothers hate to have their boys use tobacco. 

Well, Henry, I'm real glad to hear you speak so 
plainly and forcibly about this matter. And now, 
boys, what will you do with this testimony? Shall 
we count it one against Tobacco? "Yes, yes, yes," I 
hear you say. Suppose those who doubt these experi- 
ments try them for themselves, and then they v will be 
ready to give their voice against Mr. Tobacco. TVell, 
boys, who speaks next? 

(Charles) — I am Charles,* the dentist's son. My 
father has been a dentist 25 years. He says people 
talk nonsense when they say tobacco preserves the 
teeth; for the worst teeth he has to care for are those 
whose owners are forever chewing tobacco. He says 
the reason they do not have toothache is because the 
poison of tobacco contains creosote that deadens the 
nerves so they do not feel the pain of their badly dis- 
eased and decayed teeth; for they are even ivorse than 
others, as the tobacco injures the gums, and the linings 
of the stomach and bowels, and therefore affects the 
teeth, making them wear out faster. Several physi- 
cians of renown have asserted that the use of tobacco, 
because of its poisonous and relaxing qualities, is 
positively injurious to the teeth, and most physician-- 



98 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

agree with them. The teeth of tobacco-users are a 
dark-brown color instead of a pretty white; for the 
tendency of tobacco, either in smoke or juice, is to 
darken whatever it comes in contact with. My 
father keeps two boxes for the teeth he pulls, and 
whenever he takes out a tooth he asks the man if he 
uses tobacco, and if he does, the tooth is put in the 
tobacco box, and you ought to see the difference, be- 
tween them and the others. Father says to every boy 
who comes into the office, "Do you want to see my 
specimens?" And then he gets out the two boxes. 
You ought to see them look. Father says it is a 
" good object lesson." 

Well, Charles, we are very glad to know about the 
teeth, for we often hear people say they use tobacco 
to keep their teeth sound and white, but we see they 
are mistaken. "What shall we do with this evidence 
presented against Mr. Tobacco? Shall it count one 
against him? As most of you say "Yes," we will 
count it one. Who will be the next witness ? Oh, 
here is our friend and neighbor, little Sam. Now, 
boys, listen carefully while he speaks, as he is so weak 
he cannot make you hear unless there is good at- 
tention. 

(Sammy) — I would like to put all my weight and 
strength against Mr. Tobacco, for I owe him a good 
fight for what he has done for me. My father and 
mother both used tobacco for many years 'before I 
was born. When I was a baby my father had a sick 
spell, and as he was a long time getting well he sat 



THE TOBACCO HABIT. 99 

in the house smoking most of the time. My mother 
was not strong. She did not smoke, but chewed, and 
she said she felt just awful bad and had fainting spells. 
I was sick also. So when a new doctor came to see 
a neighbor mother called him in and told him how 
poorly we all were. He looked at mother carefully, 
then at my father, who sat smoking, and said he did 
not wonder at us all being sick in that close room with 
the tobacco smoke so thick. Then he went on to ex- 
plain how the smoke is breathed into the lungs as fine 
particles of poisonous substance that irritate the deli- 
cate membranes of throat and lungs, causing inflamma- 
tion and preventing the organs from performing their 
natural office. If the room was full of smoke, there 
was an overabundance of carbonic acid gas, just the 
substance the lungs are continually throwing off. 
This prevents the reception of pure oxygen gas, the 
life-giving principle. He told her much more about 
the use of tobacco, and she was so thoroughly alarmed 
that she stopped chewing, and tried to persuade father 
to give up his pipe. When he looked at me he said 
unless there was a great change, in less than a month 
I would be in the grave. Then my mother kept me 
in another room and made my father open the window 
when he smoked. So father seeing her concern tried 
hard to stop smoking and used less and less every day 
until he stopped in a long and severe illness. When 
he recovered, the appetite for it was gone and he could 
hardly bear the sight or smell of the stuff any more. 
The doctors agree that my nervous system,my brain. 

LofC. 



100 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

and my lungs are all affected by tobacco. My father 
and mother often cry when I am sick, and wish they 
could take my place, as they consider themselves to 
blame for my condition ; but I tell them that igno- 
rance of the harmful effects of tobacco is the cause, and 
I mean to talk all I can against it. I have heard of 
different people being healed by the power of God, 
and so I am learning to trust the Lord, and after 
a while when my faith is stronger I expect to be 
healed of the effects of tobacco, and grow up strong 
like the rest of you, who never have been, injured 
by it. 

That is right, little Sam; I believe you will be a 
man in more ways than one when the Lord heals you ; 
for you have the true courage of a man, if the body is 
weak and small. !S"ow, boys, shall we count this one 
against Mr. Tobacco, since it shows the result of 
using it, upon helpless little children ? "Oh, yes, 
yes," you say so earnestly that I am sure you mean it 
from the depth of your hearts. 

Well, Lewis, speak out ; for you surely have some- 
thing to tell us worth hearing. 

(Lewis) — Well, boys, you often hear it said among 
us, that some one is so foolish that he will not learn 
to smoke or chew, because his mother thinks it is harm- 
ful. You have heard enough testimony to show clear- 
ly that it is harmful to the pocketbook and to the body, 
and now I would like to help you to see that it is harm- 
ful to the mind. You know we boys are generally so 
strong in body that we are apt to laugh at folks when 



THE. TOBACCO HABIT. 101 

they speak of us becoming sick from the use of tobacco. 
But I know enough about sickness to know it often 
comes to those who think they are the healthiest and 
strongest people living. My Uncle Amos was one of 
those large, strong men, and often remarked in his 
droll way that he " s'posed he'd live always unless 
something happened." He chewed and smoked — 
would sit in his room and smoke for hours, until the 
room was full of thick smoke, and then he would sleep 
in it ; as he said he did not want a particle of tobacco 
smoke lost, for it was too good to lose. Grandma often 
told him to stop doing it, and would air his room good 
in the daytime while he was at work. A year ago he 
began to complain of his head, and so was prevailed 
upon to stop smoking in his room. His head grew 
worse ; so he went to see a doctor, who said the fine 
particles in tobacco smoke had affected the membranes 
of the head, and he must stop smoking or he would 
suffer much more. 

He gave it up for a time and appeared much better, 
but he had such a craving for it that he began to smoke 
again. One day he became unconscious, and the doc- 
tors said the whole trouble was in his head, and recom- 
mended quiet and abstinence from tobacco. 

He was able to walk around, but seemed to be 
simple as a little child ; just as if the brain had ceased 
to work because it was benumbed by poison. He was 
a great care to his parents, although he was quiet and 
good and never asked for tobacco or seemed to notice 
much but his parents. At last they began to pray with 



102 mothers' counsel to theib sons. 

him and he seemed to like it and gradually got better, 
until one day he said aloud, " Mother, it was tobacco 
that did it. I'll never use it again." He got well 
real fast after that, and was soon at work. But, oh, 
how differently he acted ! He said to me one day, 
" Lewis, you ought to praise God that your uncle is 
not in the insane asylum, and that he has his right 
mind to serve God and let tobacco alone." I asked 
mother about it, and she said she had seen it stated 
that there were 70,000 insane people in this country 
and over 15,000 of them owed their insanity directly 
to tobacco. So I have made up my mind to think too 
much of myself to put something into my mouth to 
steal away my brains. Some young men have been so 
affected by its power on the mind as to take their own 
lives. Now, boys, let us be men, and keep our money, 
our health, and our minds. 

It pleases me very much to hear the boys so strong 
for the right. JSTow, how many are willing to give 
this evidence one in count against Mr. Tobacco ? Oh, 
yes ; I see you are willing to do so ; for you all want 
to be strong-minded. Who comes next upon our wit- 
ness stand ? 

Well, Fred, we are all looking to hear something 
good from you ; for you are u your father's own son " 
and we know he has told you many good things. 

(Fred) — Yes, boys, he has; and besides that, I 
have kept my ears and eyes open the last year and I 
know some things by careful observation. Father 
says he has watched many of his friends who began to 



THE TOBACCO HABIT. 103 

chew when they were young, and he finds the larger 
number of them learned to drink and to gamble. He 
says he is sure tobacco causes a thirst for strong drink 
and tends toward other gross evils. The appetite is 
not satisfied with the tobacco poison, but craves some- 
thing stronger. I saw this statement in a little book 
on tobacco. " There were 600 prisoners in the State's 
Prison at Auburn, £T. Y., a few years ago for crime 
committed when under the influence of strong drink. 
Of these 500 testified that they began their course of 
intemperance by the use of tobacco. Prison statistics 
show with scarcely an exception that forgers, default- 
ers, and swindlers use tobacco, while 97 per cent, of 
all male convicts first lost their freedom by bondage 
to tobacco." JSTow, boys, I do not want to run any 
risk of being a drunkard or a prisoner, and so I am 
going to shun the first steps that lead that way — even 
tobacco. 

I am glad to find that our boys can use their eyes 
and ears and prove it by what they observe. How 
many think this is strong for one against Mr. To- 
bacco ? Say yes quickly ; for we want to get through 
and shut him up in prison before he does any more 
mischief. Your answers of " Yes, yes," come so 
thick and fast that it surely means victory on the side 
of right. 

Well, William, I see you are so full of something 
good against our foe that you can hardly stand still or 
keep still ; so you may have the floor. 

(William) — Oh, yes; I am. I feel like boiling 



104: MOTHERS* COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

over, but wanted my testimony to be one of the last. 
I am glad to say I am a Christian boy and look at 
things very carefully in view of eternity. A year 
ago the boys told me I was foolish to listen to mother 
about tobacco; for she was a Christian, and they al- 
ways make so much fuss about little things that they 
imagine are bad. So I wondered if it was only 
Christian people who were fighting the use of tobacco, 
but I find it is not true. Doctors, authors, scientific 
men, dentists, business men, farmers ; yes, all who do 
not use it and have studied about it, are uniting in 
condemning it, for the good of the young men and 
boys. And now we boys are enlisting in the battle, 
and whether we are Christians or not we will cry out 
against tobacco. 

But I am sure we Christians ought to be stronger 
against it, as the Lord has opened our eyes to see how 
it allures the boys into sin and bondage to evil, and 
hinders them from loving and serving God. When 
our friend was speaking about tobacco injuring the 
mind, I thought how awful it would be to be living 
without the right use of our minds, and then the 
thought came: How much worse to have our souls 
dead in sin, not to be able to see, hear, or feel the 
things of God that pertain to eternal life and glory. 
I know, boys, if some great king should set before us 
life and death and tell us we must give up all to have 
life, we would gladly lay down all our evil habits, 
our money, our all to gain natural life. The King of 
glory offers eternal life to all who will give up all sin, 



THE TOBACCO HABIT. 105 

and love and serve him. It is a rare opportunity to 
gain present and eternal joys. In order to gain 
these we must give up the sinful ones, as they would 
hinder us in the enjoyment of the good; and when he 
asks us to do so he provides the way by taking away 
the desire for them. So if you want to give them 
up, just look to him and he will give the help needed. 
It makes me so glad to think that the worst case of 
tobacco slaverv is broken by the Lord Jesus. Now, 
boys, I believe we have evidence enough to convict 
Mr. Tobacco as the worst tyrant dwelling among 
boys. So let's sum up the evidence and see. 

Well, William, just wait a moment. How many 
boys really consider the soul the most important part 
of our being { Oh, I see most of you do. Xow how 
many counts shall we give this evidence against Mr. 
Tobacco ? Many witnesses testify that no earthly 
power could break their bondage to tobacco, but 
Jesus has stepped in and delivered from it, taking 
awav even the least desire for it. If Jesus does this, 
then it shows how very displeasing to him its use is. 
Shall this testimony count two against Mr. Tobacco I 
" Yes, yes. 7 ' Any more evidence before we close the 
case ? 

(George) — Yes, indeed! Medical men are awaking 
to the fact that tobacco is the cause of many of the 
diseases that destrov life. It not onlv affects the 
users of the poisonous and filthy weed, but it serious- 
lv affects all who come in contact with it. It is thus 
sapping the life from the greater part of humanity. 



106 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

The children inherit appetite for it, disease from it, 
and weakened minds and energy, with depraved 
natures, as the result of parental indulgence. There 
is not a faculty of our being but what is impaired by 
the use of tobacco poison. One might just as well 
take a dose of strychnine daily and expect no serious 
results as to take into the system in different ways 
this nicotine poison. Sometimes tobacco is used for 
a stimulant in hopes of obtaining intellectual strength 
and victory. The hope is a false one, as its tendency 
is the opposite, producing dullness and indifference 
toward mental exertion. Dear boys, if you want to 
be men, strong, wise, pure, and good, leave tobacco to 
its natural lovers, for food, the great ugly green 
worms. 

Thank you, George. The boys are getting truly 
awake on this subject and are crying, " Count one 
against Mr. Tobacco/' " Give him to the worms." 

(Tom) — I just want to say that we ought to 
speak a word against our foe for our mothers and 
homes. Did you think seriously how anxious they 
are for our welfare ? Well, I heard one mother say 
she would rather see her little boys laid away in their 
graves than to see them commence chewing; as it 
generally led to deeper sins that some of us knew 
nothing about, at least their most serious effects. 
Another mother said she would be willing to live on 
cornbread and water to see her sons grow to manhood 
without forming the habits of chewing, smoking, and 
drinking. Then think how some of us have 



THE TOBACCO HABIT. 107 

punished our best friends by polluting ourselves, our 
homes, and the air thev breathe. I think the home 
circle has a right to cry out in thunder tones, " Count 
one for us." I am sure we could go further by think- 
ing of blighted lives, lost hopes, lost aspirations, be- 
trayed confidence, and selfish and unholy desires ; 
but let us close the case and sentence the offender. 

Well, boys, you surely will give a good strong 
count in behalf of mothers and homes. You may not 
understand it so well now as when you have homes 
of your own. Let us sum up the evidence briefly. 

One count for Finance. 

One count for Scientific experiment. 

One count for Dentists. 

One count for Children's sickness. 

One count for the Mind. . 

One count for Appetite. 

Two counts for Soul. 

One count for General good of all. 

One count for Mothers and Homes. 

Xow, there are ten good solid counts against our 
foe. Who can sav a word in his favor ? Silence 
reigns ! Now, boys, what shall be the sentence ? 
Stand up, Mr. Tobacco, and answer for yourself why 
the extreme penalty of the law shall not be passed 
upon you. 

(Tobacco) — " Guilty — The only wonder is why I 
was not sentenced years ago." 

(Boys) — Then hear your sentence. Go back to the 
dark pit from whence you came, and never show your- 



108 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

self in your deceitfulness to another boy or man 
while this world shall last; and then receive your 
final sentence from God Almighty. 



EXPEBIEXCE IN THE USE OF TOBACCO. 



It is surely wise and right to warn all we can of 
the evils arising from the use of anything harmful. 
A druggist who does not label his poisonous articles 
with their names or signs of poison is considered re- 
sponsible for all results arising therefrom. While 
we are not- dealing in poisons, we are in gospel truth, 
and God requires us to warn the people ; to cry aloud, 
spare not, show the people their sins. This means 
that we are to label ail sins with their right names. 
If tobacco is a poison so strong as to destroy life, as 
it is acknowledged and proved to be by learned men, 
then it is high time that we gospel teachers give the 
proper name to the use of tobacco. So we will in the 
grace and strength of God, knowing we shall receive 
severe censure therefor by those who are addicted to 
its use. Its name is this : The sin of tobacco poisoning. 

When men hear of young ladies taking small doses 
of arsenic daily to beautify their complexion, they 
are horrified, and exclaim in accents of severe censure, 
" The idiots ; don't they know that is ruin to their 
bodies '?" But here are men who count themselves 
strong-minded, deliberately taking poison into their 
system to satisfy the unnatural appetite created by 
its use; for tobacco creates an appetite for itself that 

109 



110 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

cannot be satisfied by a substitute. Often these same 
tobacco-users will censure in severest terms those who 
form the habit of using morphine, when they are 
" riding in the same boat," as both take into their 
system that which tears them down instead of build- 
ing them up in health and strength. 

" Well/' some one says, " I want to enjoy life as I 
go, and I'm not particular about living very long." 
But how about your responsibility before God ? Has 
he not entrusted your body, your mind, your soul, and 
all your faculties for use and improvement as talents % 

What will you say when you stand before him in 
judgment with a defiled and poisoned body, a neg- 
lected mind, and a careless and unholy heart ? The 
Bible says, " Blessed are the pure in heart." Do you 
not know that a woman who is clean and tidy in her 
own personal appearance will keep a clean and tidy 
house? for cleanliness works from the center out- 
ward. One who is pure in heart delights in purity, 
and so it works outward into a pure body, a pure life, 
and pure surroundings so far as one is capable of ob- 
taining them. ]STo one can have a pure heart long 
without beholding things in their true condition. 
Heart-purity soon discovers filthiness of the flesh, let 
it be in habits or in untidiness of dress. 

I heard of a preacher who, after many years of re- 
ligious service, was one evening walking in his yard 
smoking his favorite cigar. At the same time his 
mind was wandering into the future and considering 
the glories of the better world as the dear old-time 



EXPERIENCE IN THE USE OF TOBACCO. Ill 

" I want to be an angel, 

And with the angels stand, 
A crown upon my forehead, 

A harp within my hand/' 

was being hummed with religious fervor. Then came 
the thought, " How would you look with a cigar in 
your mouth amid that purity and splendor ?" His 
soul was condemned, and he threw away the cigar with 
the decision nevermore to be guilty of so unholy a 
practice. 

Another preacher who had been extremely earnest 
in his religious efforts and very decided in regard to 
different lines of Christian duty, was preparing to use 
his tobacco as a friend entering the room said kindly, 
" Is that right, brother V He thought an instant and 
replied, " Of course it is not. * You may have this ; I 
shall never use it again." And he never did. This 
shows us the necessity of carefully examining every- 
thing we do, to see if there is any evil in it, and of 
receiving instruction willingly. 

In the past there was not so much known about the 
evil results of tobacco, and there was not so much said 
in pulpit and by press. Many religious papers are 
taking a decided stand against this evil, and many 
fearless ministers and workers are proclaiming free- 
dom from all sinful habits. 

Why is tobacco-using a sin? is the question of 
many. Beside the injury done to the body, there is 
the waste of money which should be used for better 
purposes, and the selfishness that demands one's own 



112 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

pleasure regardless of others' needs or wishes; then 
the example set before others, by which many are in- 
fluenced to begin its use ; and the careless indifference 
to the instruction " Whatsoever ye do, do all to the 
glory of God ;" and the direct disobedience to the ex- 
hortation to " cleanse yourselves from all filthiness of 
the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of 
God." 

We have several letters of experience from those 
who once used tobacco, but were set free by the salva- 
tion of Jesus, and we wish you to read them carefully 
and observe every point closely, and make a candid 
and strong decision for your good and the welfare of 
friends and acquaintances. 



CURED OF THE GREAT TOBACCO SIN. 

Dear Boys : I will give you a little of my life ex- 
perience, as it may help yon and thus honor God. 

My mother died when I was about five years old, 
and shortly afterward my father bound me out to a 
farmer who lived about forty miles from our home. 
I remained there nearly eight years, during which 
time I was shamefully abused, even almost unto death. 
Finally, hoping to better my condition I ran away 
in company with my two older brothers, who brought 
me to an uncle, who hired me for a year. Soon after 
my year was finished at uncle's I saw my father, 



EXPERIENCE IN THE USE OF TOBACCO. 113 

whom I had not seen since he bound me out about 
nine years before, nor have I seen him since. This 
was about forty-five years ago. 

After this I went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and became 
an apprentice in a plow factory. Having neither 
father nor mother, sister or brother, relative or friend, 
to advise or encourage me for good, while there were 
many who influenced me for evil, I naturally chose 
the evil. I do not remember that any one ever ad- 
vised me for good while I was young. 

Not long after I entered upon my apprenticeship, 
I was advised by men, who should have known better, 
to chew tobacco to preserve my teeth, but in reality, 
as I found out afterward, that they might laugh at 
my distress resulting from the operation of the poison 
contained in tobacco upon the physical system. I 
yielded to their wishes, however, partook of their 
tobacco, mastered the habit, and then became a slave 
to it. I was a slave to it for years, and despite all my 
efforts to free myself I failed. Once for about six 
months, while in the United States army, during the 
war of the Rebellion, I abstained from its use; but I 
was still bound to it, as my system craved the tobacco; 
and when I finally gave up resisting and began to use 
it again, its taste was just as agTeeable as when I had 
left off using it six months before, and it did not 
make me sick. My desire was to be free. 

When I returned from the army T was a very 
wicked man and cared little for anything but self and 
my dear wife, whom God had given me, and who 



114 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

prayed and watched for me during those long three 
years of separation* 

I was discharged from the army in 1865. During 
the winter following there was a "revival in our 
church/' for I was a member in good standing of the 
MethodistEpiscopal sect, having joined before the war; 
but though a "church member/' the Lord convicted me 
of my sins, and during the meeting I sought the Lord 
for two weeks; and as soon as I submitted my will to 
his and believed his promises with all my heart, 
he forgave me all my sins, and I went home justi- 
fied. Oh, what joy and peace! It was beyond my 
power to tell it. 

In those days we were not taught that using tobacco 
is sin, and I still continued to use it foor about five 
years after I was adopted into the family of God. 

In the summer of 1871, in Chicago, 111., the Lord 
showed me that it was wrong to use it. I had a sick 
wife who needed every dime I could get to buy nour- 
ishing food for her poor decaying body. One day I 
had neither money nor tobacco and felt very miserable 
indeed, and for the first time I prayed as I walked on 
Clark street, "Oh, God, take away the desire for it." 
Then the awful desire left me for a little while, but 
returned again. Afterwards I received some money 
and bought a dime's worth, promising myself, "When 
this is gone, I'll buy no more." Finally, when it was 
nearly gone I took it out to bite a piece off, but the 
promise I had made came to my mind and I did not 
bite it, but said, "No, I won't," and began to pray 



EXPERIENCE IN THE USE OF TOBACCO. 115 

earnestly, "O, God, take away the desire for it"; and, 
praise God! it was done. There was not the least 
desire for it, although about two weeks afterwards the 
Devil tempted me. My brother came home with a 
cigar in his vest pocket, and I was tempted to snatch 
it from him and give it to my brother-in-law near by. 
I took it and was persuaded to light it, "just to see how 
it tasted." I did so, and it made me sick. Then I 
promised the Lord I would never use tobacco as long 
as I lived. Thank God I have never wanted it since. 
I praise God for a Savior who answers prayer for 
both soul and body. 

Yours, saved in Jesus, 

R. W. Swinburne. 



Dear Boys : In the name of Jesus and for the good 
of souls I will give my testimony. 

I cannot remember the time that I did not want 
tobacco, and when I saw others handling it, it seemed 
that I could not resist taking it from them. I was 
about ten years old when I first commenced its use, 
by chewing, and it tasted the best of anything I ever 
put in my mouth; I even swallowed the tobacco with- 
out it making me sick. 

I used it about a year before my parents found out 
that I was using it. My mother wanted to punish me 
and make me quit the use of it; but my father said 
that if I had used it that long, it would not be right to 



116 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

punish me to make me quit its use; but if I could pos- 
sibly stop using it I had better do so; that it would 
cause me to pay out a good deal of money throughout 
my life that would not benefit me in the least, etc. 
But with all that before me he said he did not think 
I could quit, for it was a birthmark upon me. I could 
go without my meals easier than without my tobacco; 
so I continued to use it, and the longer I used it the 
more I used, until it cost me about sixty dollars a 
year for the filthy stuff. 

When I grew to manhood and wanted to be in 
company with young people, my tobacco was in the 
way more or less; so I made up my mind I would 
quit its use, and so tried with all my own strength 
to do so, but had to go back to the miserable habit. 
Thus I tried several times. Once I did without it 
for a year, but, oh! dear reader, it was the hardest 
battle I ever fought; because I was fighting it alone. 
I had not learned to call upon Jesus to help me. 
Let me tell you just a little, and you that are in 
bondage to the weed may know of some of the things 
I went through. I would dream of it nearly every 
night, see great piles of it corded up and in 
every way imaginable, and even be handling it, 
but never get it into my mouth. Oh, how I 
wanted it! No one can tell the fight I had 
against it but those who have had the same or 
similar experience. I am thankful to say that 
as long as I used the filthy stuff I was careful to 
be as cleanly with it as possible; for I did de- 



EXPERIENCE IX THE USE OF TOBACCO. 117 

spise to see any one use it in a filthy manner, having 
it spatter over their clothes, running down from their 
mouths, spitting on the floors and in the wood-box, etc. 
It is no uncommon sight to see pools of tobacco juice 
in cars, hotels, depots, streets, and all public places, 
making them extremelv disagreeable to ladies with 
their dainty garments, and all who abhor filthiness. 
Yes, dear boys, we say it plainly, it is the extreme of 
filthiness. Is it any wonder that Christ says for us 
to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh ( 
Dear reader, do you need the cleansing I If so, will 
you not obev the Lord and be made clean I 

I used tobacco twentv-five years, and was con- 
demned for its use before I was converted. Although 
I was not a Bible-reader and did not know much that 
was in it, I felt that if I ever became a Christian I 
would be obliged to stop chewing. In July, 1892, 
under clear gospel preaching I was convicted of my 
sins and gave myself to God, and being already con- 
demned for the use of tobacco I went to God with it 
and told him that as I now belonged to him, if he 
would help me I would give it up ; for I had tried so 
many times that I knew I could never do so alone. 
My prayer was : " O Lord, just help me this time, and 
I know the work will be done; for thou canst take 
away the appetite, and make me so free that I shall 
never want it again." Praise the Lord ! He granted 
my request right there and then, and I have never 
wanted it since; for it has been an offense to me ever 
since that hour. I carried a small piece with me for 



118 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

a time, to see if I would want it, and would sometimes 
take it from my pocket and smell of it, but it was very 
offensive to me. 

"Now, dear boys, if any of you who read this letter 
are in bondage to tobacco, take it to Jesus and ask 
him to help you and give you power to overcome it, 
and I am sure he will do it, if you ask aright ; for he 
is no respecter of persons. If he has done it for me 
and many others, he is willing to do it for you when 
you yield yourself to his service, obey his word, and 
trust his promises. Let me see if he has promised 
to answer prayer. " And I say unto you, Ask, and it 
shall be given you ; seek, and ye shall find ; knock, and 
it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh 
receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him 
that knocketh it shall be opened." — Luke 11 : 9, 10. 
"And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will 
I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If 
ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it. If ye 
love me, keep my commandments. 57 — -John 14 : 13- 
15. "And this is the confidence that we have in him, 
that, if we ask anything according to his will, he 
heareth us : and if we know that he hear us, whatso- 
ever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that 
we desired of him." — 1 John 5 : 14, 15. We ought 
to praise God for these promises and claim them as 
ours, and receive their fulfillment according to our 
needs. Ever " the boys' " friend, 

T. E. Covex- 



"EXPERIENCE IN THE USE OE TOBACCO. 11 ( J 

Dear Boys : I want to give you a portion of my ex- 
perience with tobacco. Although you may not think 
girls know much about it, I believe we know almost as 
much as boys do concerning it, and as observers are 
much more competent to deal fairly with it. 

My parents were so opposed to tobacco that it 
seemed all the children would certainly avoid its use. 
The oldest brothers grew to manhood perfectly free 
from it, and our parents rejoiced in the precious vic- 
tory. When we went into company together we sisters 
were so pleased with our noble and manly brothers 
that we compared them with our acquaintances in 
most favorable terms. They were kind, gentlemanly, 
truthful, upright, studious, energetic, and free from 
all bad habits ; and we looked forward to a bright and 
happy future for them. 

They were sent away from home to attend a high 
school to better prepare them for usefulness. Here 
they roomed with other young men of different grades 
of character, who laughed at their morality and virtue, 
and tried every way to ensnare them into evil. 
Away from home influence, associating daily — yes, 
hourly — with those who honored evil and scorned 
good, it was not long until our brothers began to par- 
take of their ways. First, it was in smoking a cigar 
occasionally, then in playing games for treats of cigars 
or tobacco, then chewing and smoking whenever they 
had an opportunity, then trying to deceive the dear 
home folks in regard to the evil habits ; and then fol- 
lowing their companions into secret evils that de- 



120 MOTHEKS' COUNSEL TO THEIR, SONS. 

stroyed their virtue, their mental ability, their health, 
and sent them home perfect wrecks of manhood. 
Think ye there was sorrow in that home ? Yes, sor- 
row deeper and stronger than any of your boyish 
hearts can comprehend — a mother and father weeping 
and groaning over the sad desolation of their ruined 
sons; sisters mourning their loss of companionship 
and care, their bright hopes forever faded, their high 
regard turned to pity, their respect and esteem for 
manhood sorely shattered. Oh ! indeed, naught could 
compensate for all this sadness. How often the weary 
and aching hearts cried out in bitter anguish, " Oh, 
give us back our boys ! " But they were gone — 
nevermore would innoeency, manliness, and virtue 
mark their faces and forms. Out into the wide world 
they go, drinking deeper of carnal pleasure and sink- 
ing lower in character as the years roll on. 

The sisters, learning from sad experience, resolve 
never to keep company with any one who shows a 
weakness for the popular evils of youthful manhood. 
Alone they stand month after month and year after 
year, until they are known for many miles as " the 
old-maid sisters/' while still in the bloom of woman- 
hood. 

At length there comes into the friendly circle 
several men of apparently good character and with 
high regard for feminine virtue and integrity to 
principle. They finally gain access to confidence and 
friendly regard, and are in a fair way to be welcomed 
into the tenderest affections of womanhood. But, 



EXPERIENCE IN THE USE OF TOBACCO. 121 

alas! they, too, lack moral courage, and when twitted 
about their "womanish goodness," their "borrowed 
fanaticism" and their "woman slavery," they begin 
to relax their appreciation of principle and right and 
compromise with their scorners by smoking occasion- 
ally, and by asserting the "right of each one to do as 
he may choose," until the barriers of rectitude give 
way and they are drifting with the multitude into evil 
habits and vices. Shall the sisters drift with them 
and compromise the fine sense of right, or still holding 
fast their resolve, see the gulf of separation widening 
as time passes? They can in wisdom only do the 
latter and shield their hearts from the eyes of men 
who were not worthy of the affections of loyal and 
true hearts. Yet how sad to think of what "might 
have been," but for the fatal allurement to evil ! 

Yes, boys, think of it carefully. How long will 
it be until the girls must permit the attentions of 
those addicted to evil practices that affect the welfare 
of every home circle, or else remain unnoticed and 
uncared for? "Will each of you look over your youug 
friends and see how many are free from the tobacco 
habit? While your acquaintances may number a 
hundred, you may count upon your fingers those who 
do not smoke or chew, and sometimes you may not 
be able to point out one. 'Must your sisters and thedr 
friends be obliged to marry tobacco-users, no matter 
how repulsive it may be to them or how sure they 
may be that the tobacco habit covers even worse ones? 
All around us are the sad results of so doing; for poor, 



122 MOTHEKS* COUNSEL TO THEIB SONS. 

weakly wives are mourning in their hearts, if mot in 
words, over the sad mistake made in binding' their 
lives to something so repulsive to their very best feel- 
ings and desires. A woman may, during the pleasant 
days of courtship, think she can "put up with" the 
tobacco habit in the one she loves, because he is so 
nice and considerate of her in his manner of using it. 
But, alas ! after marriage he ceases to refrain from his 
indulgence in her presence or to sweeten his breath 
before kissing her, or to air his clothes after sitting for 
hours in tobacco smoke; but as the years pass and his 
indulgence becomes greater, his untidiness becomes 
more and more annoying. Obliged to receive his em- 
braces and caresses, obliged to live in the impure air 
when living at the best is one great effort, and obliged 
to yield into his arms the tiny form of precious life, 
to be slowly poisoned by contact and impure air and 
then as it reaches boyhood years see him chew, 
" 'Cause papa does." 

Yes, boys, I shall warn every girl possible not to 
give her life into the care of those who are so unwisely 
becoming enslaved to this harmful practice of tobacco- 
using. Better, far better, is it to take up some oc- 
cupation that shall enable us to live in purity than to 
become thus entangled with the offensive and poison- 
ous indulgence. 

I have watched carefully and have seen that in 
the majority of boys' lives the use of tobacco has been 
followed by a further decline from what is good and 
right ; so that my heart is made sad to see the first step 



EXPERIENCE IN THE USE OF TOBACCO. 123 

taken in a downward course. Dear boys, may I 
whisper to yon in love and confidence the real canse 
of so ranch use of this miserable tobacco? Yes, I 
will tell yon, although I know many of yon will not 
believe it. It is the lack of moral courage. "Oh," 
yon say, "take that back! for we boys have more 
courage than yon think; we are afraid of nothing." 
Yes, I know yon have one kind of courage, and will 
fight any one who does yon a wrong, and make him 
pay for it; or will venture into dangerous places or 
rescue one in danger, even to the risk of your lives; 
but that is not the kind of courage I meant. That 
in which boys and many men are lacking is moral 
courage — courage to do right. It is easier for you to 
face the foe in battle array than it is to bear the 
taunts of companions for the sake of doing right. 
Now, boys, just look carefully and see if what you 
need most is not true moral courage, and then when 
you see it be sure to use what you have, and you will 
increase its quantity and quality and make your lives 
upright, honorable, and spiritual. 

Your loving sister, - J . 



Now, boys, I must say a few words more for the 
girls upon this subject of tobacco. There are, no 
doubt, some of them who like to have their brothers 
and friends smoke and chew so as not to be counted 
odd or old-fashioned, but if the question of using 
tobacco or not using it were submitted to them there 



12*4: MOTHERS COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

would be a majority against it; for there are many 
reasons why women should despise the habit, and 
generally do. Most, of the reasons have been ex- 
pressed in different ways while we have been consider- 
ing this most important theme. 

Look here, boys! would you like to have your sisters 
learn to chew? Would it please you to have every 
girl and woman of your acquaintance engaged in the 
defiling practice? "Would you, husbands, or boys 
who expect to be, be willing to give to your wives as 
much as you spend for tobacco, to be used in some 
way equally as foolish and harmful to themselves and 
children? Suppose a man, who works hard to provide 
for himself and family, spends twenty-five dollars a 
year for tobacco for his own pleasure, ought he not 
to hand that much to his wife for her pleasure, when 
she labors just as hard for the family comfort and 
welfare? t Does he "love her as his own body" if he 
does not? How many boys want to lay aside, for 
some one else, a dime every time you spend one for 
tobacco? "Oh/ 5 say a number of them, "it is all we 
can do to get the dimes for our own use." How much 
nicer it would be for every man to save his tobacco 
money for a year, and then spend it in such a way 
that all the dear ones could enjoy it! How much 
more generous and noble it would be ! Did you ever 
see a poor farmer's wife take a basket of eggsi to 
town, buy a quarter's worth of tobacco for her hus- 
band, ten cents' worth of sugar for a family of eight, 
and a dime's worth of meat? If so, you saw one of 



EXPERIENCE IX THE USE OF TOBACCO. 125 

the saddest sights our eyes may look upon — a harmful 
and selfish habit taking the food from hungry wife 
and children. 

Oh, our sons ! cannot we Christian mothers per- 
suade you that it is not wise, kind, just, noble, and 
good to spend money for that which cannot do you 
good, while many poor beings are going through life 
without the common comforts thereof, and souls are 
perishing, for whom Christ died, without the knowl- 
edge of his blessed salvation ? Just think what an 
amount of good could be done with all the money thus 
wasted for tobacco. In a book on this subject we 
find that over $350,000,000 is spent each year in our 
country for tobacco, being about sixty times the 
amount spent for missionary work. Can it be pos- 
sible that ours is a Christian nation, when men will 
spend foolishly upon themselves so much more money 
than they will use for the salvation of poor, perishing 
souls in heathen lands ? Do figures tell the truth ? 
Then men love tobacco more than they do precious 
souls. What one man spends in a lifetime for it 
would sustain a native missionary in some heathen 
land, and thus save many precious souls. 

Will God hold us guiltless if we refuse to cry aloud 
against this popular evil? If these words could be 
blessed of God to the good of some boy who would 
fully decide to forsake this sinful habit and use his 
money for religious purposes, we Christian mothers 
would rejoice greatly; and yet by our prayers we 
expect more than this. 



126 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

Tobacco is a pois'nous weed, 
That blights the life, and sows the seed 
Of sickness, death, and sorrows great, 
That bring the soul to awful fate ; 
For misspent life, and wasted means, 
For selfish deeds, and lustful dreams, 
That lead the boys to greater crime, 
To depths of sin in after time. 

Tobacco then, our foe must be ; 

And thus we write, that boys may see 

How Christian mothers o'er this land 

Do form a large and praying band, 

That all our sons (and daughters too) 

May hate the weed, and ever do 

With " might and main " whatever they can, 

To vanquish him, that ev'ry man 

In after years may always be 

From tyrant bands and yoke kept free. 



IXTEMPEKAXCE. 



This is one of the deepest, darkest, most subtle 
snares for the destruction of humanity that the Devil 
ever invented, and is accomplishing much in its line 
of evil. It seems such a little thing to eat and drink 
whatever is pleasant, that many have been deceived 
thereby and have been enslaved to the appetite for 
strong; drink before thev were hardlv aware of danger* 
Although much has been said and written against this 
great evil, it seems to fall on dull ears or else many 
who should hear have not been blessed with the oppor- 
tunity of gaining instruction; for the ranks seem to 
fill up as fast as some drop out. 

Doubtless many, very many, have been saved from 
this evil by words given just at the right time and in 
the right way ; and now we Christian mothers would 
continue to reach the boys with such words of love, 
counsel, reproof, and wisdom as God may help us to 
give in his fear and for his glory. " To be fore- 
warned is to be forearmed " is an old expression that 
means much. If one is warned beforehand of danger 
that threatens his welfare, then he is armed for his de- 
fense against that danger, and not taken unawai 

Supposing an army that was unacquainted with the 

127 



128 MOTHERS COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

Indians' method of warfare were sent to them to re- 
store peace during an Indian rebellion against the 
" white man's " authority over their reservations, and 
would undertake to fight them in " white man's" 
fashion — face to face in open combat — while the In- 
dians, instead of so doing, would lie in ambush behind 
every bush, tree, stick, and stone, and pick off with 
unerring aim every one who* came within range of 
their hiding-places; it would be no wonder if they 
succeeded in defeating the well-disciplined army. 
From this we may learn that every wrong must be met 
in the right and wise way in order to be defeated. 
This evil of intemperance with all its sly and cunning 
ways of deception and work must be understood in 
order to know how to meet it in battle. Perhaps some 
boys would like to know what intemperance is ; so we 
will explain it to you. It is right to eat and drink as 
much wholesome food as our bodies require for our 
good. Anything more than this is intemperance ; for 
it is " want of moderation." When men begin to use 
such drink as is harmful to them, such as hard cider, 
beer, wine, brandy, whisky, etc., they are becoming 
intemperate ; for "moderation" would stop them from 
drinking any but good, healthful drink. So the 
word used as the head of this subject means the 
habitual use of intoxicating liquors as a drink. Those 
who use it this way are generally overcome therewith 
and become drunkards. 

One wise way to defeat the evil of intemperance is 
to instruct the children in regard to the effects of 



INTEMPERANCE. 129 

liquor upon the physical system. This is being done 
quite thoroughly through the public schools in the 
teaching of physiology. 

As there are many children who do not reach that 
study, it is well to teach the younger ones by object les- 
sons, which is done in many places by efficient teach- 
ers. Simple demonstrations of the nature, power, and 
effects of intoxicants may appeal more forcibly to the 
mind through the eyes than through the ears. Alco- 
hol is one of the most active stimulants, and is found 
in nearly all intoxicating liquors. " It is a clear, 
watery-like, volatile fluid having a hot, pungent taste 
and penetrating odor." In the object lessons it is 
shown to be a fluid that burns with a pale blue flame 
and intense heat. A saucer containing a few spoon- 
fuls of alcohol mixed with several of water may have 
a cloth laid into it and then lighted and the alcohol 
will burn leaving the cloth and water ; thus showing 
its inflammable nature though mixed with an opposite 
element. Another illustration that is forcible, is to 
put the white of an egg into alcohol and watch the 
change made in it. The white or albumen coagulates, 
or hardens, as if cooked. When we see that this fiery 
liquid must enter every portion of the body with this 
influence or effect, we can imagine the harm done 
thereby; especially upon those parts that have the 
substance of the egg. The brain is albumen, and 
would coagulate or harden the same as in the illustra- 
tion. It is a fact also that a greater amount of the 
liquid is found in the head than elsewhere, so the ex- 



130 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

pression " the liquor has gone to his head " is very 
true and forcible. 

To help the boys more fully, we will give a few les- 
sons from the school physiology, showing that learned 
men agree as to the harmful effects upon the physical 
system. 

Alcohol is a stimulant and narcotic. "As a stimu- 
lant it excites the brain and nerves, increases the cir- 
culation of the blood, and intoxicates (makes drunk) ; 
while as a narcotic it blunts the powers of the brain 
and nerves and produces stupor and death. Since al- 
cohol contains no nitrogen, it lacks one of the elements 
of food, and consequently will not sustain life. c Al- 
cohol has no iron nor salts for the blood ; no gluten, 
phosphorus, nor lime for the bones; and no albumen, 
or substance which is the basis of every living organ- 
ism.' — Dr. Lees. Hence it cannot be termed a food. 
Tests in the army, navy, and Arctic explorations have 
definitely proved the above position. Neither will 
alcohol allay thirst, and for the following reason : Al- 
cohol has a great attraction for water, and when swal- 
lowed draws the water to itself, thus depriving the 
tissues of the body of that most necessary inorganic 
food. Again, alcohol causes a rush of blood to the 
skin, when a sensation of warmth is felt upon the 
surface of the body. However, the sensation of heat 
is, like beauty, ' only skin deep/ as the heat of the 
system has really been diminished rather than in- 
creased ; because when the blood is upon the surface, 
it parts with its heat more readily." 



INTEMPEKAISrCE. 131 

" The effects of alcohol upon the heart may be 
summed up in the following statements : 

(a) It causes a softening of the muscles of the 
heart, and a fatty degeneration, thus clogging the 
workings of this vital organ. 

(6) It overworks the heart. 

(c) Oftentimes it renders the heart weak and 
flabby. 

(d) It causes an enlargement or dilation of its 
parts. 

(e) There is a consequent effect of drowsiness and 
lassitude. 

(/) Its general effect upon the heart is to destroy 
its strength and usefulness/' 

" Alcohol has the following effects upon the lungs : 
(a) It makes the blood impure, thus increasing the 
work of the lungs. 

(&) It paralyzes the blood vessels. 

(c) It weakens the various lung tissues. 

\d) It vitiates the breath." 

" Alcohol's effects upon the stomach : 

(a) Produces chronic inflammation of the stomach. 

(b) Injures the mucous lining by hardening the 
tissues. 

(c) It destroys some of the small glands and im- 
pairs others. 

(d) It precipitates the pepsin of the gastric juice, 
thus retarding digestion. 



132 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

(e) It thickens the mucus of the stomach. 
(/) The action of the stomach is at first quickened 
by the presence of alcohol, and then retarded/' 

" The effects of alcohol upon the liver may be : 
(a) It produces a hardened condition of its tissues. 
(&) Enlarges the organ. 

(c) Compresses and lessens the cells for producing 
bile. 

(d) Stimulates the liver to overaction, thus reduc- 
ing the bile supply. 

(c) It weakens and destroys the usefulness of this 
organ of digestion/' 

" Effect of alcohol upon the blood and blood vessels : 

(a) It thins and coagulates the blood according to 
the amount of alcohol. 

(b) It hastens the circulation, thus weakening it. 

(c) It prevents combustion. 

(d) It impairs and destroys the corpuscles, thus 
affecting their powers of transporting oxygen and car- 
bonic acid gas. 

(e) It weakens the arterial muscles by affecting the 
nerves governing them." 

" Effects of alcohol upon the brain and nerves are : 

(a) It causes apoplexy and epilepsy by confusing 
the brain. 

(b) It weakens the will and deadens the feelings. 

(c) It hardens the brain tissues, producing dull- 
ness, insensibility, and insanity. 



INTEMPERANCE. 133 

(d) It destroys the nerve fiber of the brain. 

(e) It temporarily stimulates and finally depresses 
this organ. 

(/) It ivill at last destroy man, body and soul." 

"Alcohol leads every other drug in its far-reaching 
influence for mischief and evil. Were the thousands 
of ruined homes, the untold numbers of blasted lives, 
the sorrows, the sins, numberless crimes, murders, and 
deaths brought in panoramic review before us, what 
a hell-born picture it would be." 

" The effect of alcohol upon the morals is awful. 
All delicacy, courtesy, and self-respect are gone ; the 
sense of justice and right is faint or quite extinct; 
there is no vice into which the victim of drunkenness 
does not easily slide ; and no crime from which he can 
be expected to refrain. Between this condition and 
insanity there is but a single step." — Extracts from 
Hotzes Physiology. 

The more thorough the teaching of the young and 
the better the influences surrounding them the less 
likely are they to fall into this snare laid for their en- 
tanglement and destruction. JSTo home should count 
its work done that does not warn in love and wisdom 
the little ones therein, in regard to this awful sin that 
destroys soul and body. Often parents take it for 
granted that since they are temperate and have de- 
cided and strong convictions against this evil, their 
children will take the same bold stand, even without 
any special teaching from them. This is a great mis- 



134 mothers' counsel to their S01S t S. 

take, and should be corrected at once. Short temper- 
ance pieces should be read to them, the word of God 
on the subject committed to memory, and every effort 
made to encourage self-control of appetite and desire. 
Often children are allowed to harbor the feeling that 
the height of pleasure is to do just as they want to 
do. regardless of all consequences. They should be 
trained early to see for themselves that true pleasure 
is found in ways of right and wisdom, and every 
wrong brings sad results to themselves and friends in 
some manner. 

Gospel workers should teach and preach the 
word on this subject just as faithfully as on any other, 
as there are many precious souls willing to be de- 
livered from the bondage of the drink habit, if they 
only knew where to go for help. Most of the religions 
of the present day are powerless to deliver from evil 
ways, because most of what is called faith is simply 
intellectual belief that does not bring deliverance 
from sin to the heart of man; but the simple religion 
of Jesus Christ gives victory over all sin and unclean- 
ness, because the soul regenerated by divine grace 
is sustained by a true and living faith in the promises 
of God. 

Nations may prohibit the manufacture and sale of 
all intoxicating liquors, when such a law can be en- 
acted by the majority vote of tEe people. It takes 
strong effort to procure that law and stronger effort 
to enforce it. Many are laboring on that line in 
earnest endeavor and faithfulness to conviction of 



INTEMPERANCE. 135 

duty, and are doing much for the betterment of the 
people. As long as sin rules in the hearts of men, so 
long will it bring them into bondage to evils of differ- 
ent kinds. Make the heart pure and the life will be 
pure. So, boys, we would entreat you to give your- 
selves to the service of God and thus escape all the 
deceptions and allurements of Satan. 

Xo words of ours can portray the sad results of in- 
temperance, and yet we must try to bring some points 
before you. If this habit of drinking liquor was con- 
fined to the lowest grade of society, as the result of 
careless living and lack of education, it would not 
seem so hard to reach: for in its enlightenment and 
elevation through better surroundings, with education 
and culture, would be victory; but as we look around 
we see the drunkard ranks are increased with the 
brightest and best from all classes of society. Here 
are those reared in homes of culture and refinement, 
those who were striving for different stations of prom- 
inence and responsibility, and those occupying places 
of usefulness in the quiet walks of life, going down 
to the depths of shame and degradation, , companions 
of thieves, murderers, and whoremongers. The social 
glass drained at feasts, parties, balls, suppers, at clubs 
and lodges, is responsible for much of this evil. Men 
of wealth, education, and refinement hold to the belief 
that "it is a curtailment of personal liberty to banish 
the wine cup" from their richly furnished tables of 
princely splendor. Others carefully instructed in 
temperance and principle lay down their fortifications 



136 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

when coming in contact with those "broader views/' 
and are soon enjoying the personal liberty of making 
beast of themselves, as well as idiots, for a time at 
least, as the effect of drinking is to "steal away the 
brains." Many are the instances of those thus seduced 
by fashionable folly and unrighteous judgment, and 
awful will be the punishment of those who "give their 
neighbor drink." Often the cup is given by the 
hands of feminine beauty in order to prove more at- 
tractive and harder to be resisted by those who are 
entering into temptation. 

The word of God says "he that is deceived -thereby 
is not wise." In what way can boys be deceived by 
liquor? "Look not thou upon the wine when it is 
red, when it giveth his color in the cup, when it 
moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a 
serpent, and stingeth like an adder." — Prov. 23, 30. 
This Bible instruction every one should receive for 
his good, for if he is careful not to look upon wine in 
its attractive state, then he will not be tempted to 
partake of it or to decide that, "It surely will do no 
harm to taste it once." Many think they are so 
manly, have such a strong will, that they "can drink 
when they want to and let it alone when they want 
to." Very few of those who have thus thought 
have been able to do so. The effort to be moderate 
in their drinking has been greater than the effort to 
let it alone entirely would have been, and then the 
risk run was very great. IsTo one is wise to take upon 
himself such a great responsibility. The nature of 



INTEMPERANCE. 137 

drink is like that of tobacco; for it creates an appetite 
fcr itself that nothing else can satisfy, and the more 
one drinks the more he wants, until he has no control 
over his desire. 

There is hardly a sadder sight than a man endowed 
with gifts and graces from the great Creator's hanc\ 
so abusing himself by the use of intoxicants as to 
sink himself below the brute beast. What animals 
are there that will not choose the best conditions, 
circumstances, and associations in preference to the 
worst? The way man chooses these is to choose to 
drink instead of choosing to let liquor alone. The 
fact is, he prefers to drink because the effect of drink 
upon him is at first pleasant, and the rest comes as 
a result. Therefore it is wise to look further than 
the first appearance, as "at last it biteth like a serpent 
and stingeth like an adder." 

It may seem to boys a beautiful picture of manli- 
ness to see a young man in his strength and. youthful 
vigor calmly holding in his hand and to his ruby lips 
the sparkling wine-cup and drinking its contents, with 
the confidence, "It shall never make a slave of me," de- 
picted in face and motion; but to us mothers it is a 
picture of foolhardiness scarcely equaled by any other 
sight. A lion asleep in a cage is a far prettier sight 
than one fastening his jaws upon a man's throat; but 
as a lion, in a cage, is ready to spring upon the one 
who shall enter his cage, so is the demon of drink 
ready to fasten upon the one who lightly tampers with 
it h an occasional glass. A\ r e can but pity those who 



138 MOTHERS* COUNSEL TO 'THEIR SONS. 

will not take warning from the sad scenes around 
them or from the sad experience of millions, but must 
try the awful experiment for themselves, only to be 
destroyed therein. 

ISTow, boys, let us take an illustration. There are 
a number of snakes whose bite has proved to be very 
poisonous, killing or sadly afflicting all those who re- 
ceive their bite. Suppose two of these snakes are in 
a cage, with just the tip of their tails sticking out, and 
two boys think they will prove that men are mistaken 
in believing them poisonous. So they seek this cage 
twice a day, and grasping the tails with their fingers 
they pinch and pull them gently, and as the snakes, do 
not bite them they go away laughing at the absurdity 
of those harmless snakes hurting any one. This they 
do day after day, until the snakes are more out of the 
cage than in. After a time the day conies when the 
snakes are liberated. Then with a slight effort they 
turn upon their victims and thrust them through with 
their poisonous fangs ; and unless they have help from 
some source they are bound to suffer and to die. "The 
serpent of the still " is a terrible monster, not to be 
played with. He lies in the saloon, with just his tail 
visible at the wine supper, the ball, the lodge feast, 
and the political jubilee, and thousands of the youth 
of the land are pulling his tail by partaking of an oc- 
casional glass of beer, wine, brandy, or whisky, and 
laughing at "those teetotalers who think a man is on 
the road to ruin when he drinks now and then." But 
alas ! the awful monster is pulled forth at last, and 



INTEMPERANCE. 139 

his head is seen to have terrible fangs to poison and 
destroy soul and body : but then it is too late — the sad 
result must follow the folly ; a ruined life, a death of 
shame, and an eternity of woe. 

Few who begin the habit of drink awake to their 
true condition until beyond their power to stop. But, 
dear boys and men, there is a power that can break 
even the bonds of drink and can cure even this ser- 
pent's bite. It is the salvation of Jesus; for when 
one is beyond the help of men and will look to Jesus 
for it, he is sure to come to that one's assistance. 
" Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, 
and I will give you rest." Oh, that poor, burdened 
men, women, and children would awake to the fact 
that we have a " wonderful Redeemer," one who is 
" mighty to save "■ all who will call upon him ! Oh, 
that the burdened ones would cast their burdens upon 
that Mighty One and find blessed rest and victory ! 
How many aching hearts are tracing their sorrows to 
this great evil of intemperance ! 

Mothers and fathers are weeping over the estrange- 
ment, degradation, destruction, and future punish- 
ment of their children ; and parents are meeting the 
same sad doom regardless of the entreaty, sorrow, and 
suffering of their children. 

Oh, the awful, awful burden that rests upon the 
frail shoulders of humanity because of this great sin 
of drink ! Dear ones, it is too heavy to be borne by 
you, and there is One who wishes to bear it for you 
if you will carry it to him. Then take it to him in 



140 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

simple, earnest, believing prayer, and find how 
precious it is to cast all your care upon Jesus, who 
" careth for you." So many look upon God as an 
indifferent, unconcerned, unloving being who is just 
waiting to punish the wicked for all their wrong-doing. 
O dear souls, do not harbor that belief another mo- 
ment. He has "so loved" you that in infinite mercy and 
pity he has made provision to do for you exceeding 
abundantly more than you can ask or think. He will 
do for each of us all we ask him to in faith and in the 
name of Jesus. He will bear our burdens, give grace 
for every trial, send conviction upon the erring ones ; 
and if they will yield to the wooing of the Holy Spirit, 
he will save them and deliver from the bonds and 
snares of the evil one. Could we ask for more ? Yes ; 
he will quiet the restless heart with his " Peace, be 
still," and make a way where there is no way — even 
through a wilderness of woe, until the " Bright and 
Morning Star " shall eclipse the sun in the brightness 
of his shining, and night shall be turned to day. 

Oh, dear boys, can any one have enough pleasure 
in this evil habit to compensate for the sadness and 
trouble brought upon those near and dear ? If one 
could be perfectly isolated from every one, without 
attachment to or influence over any, then the choosing 
of the drink track for personal pleasure might not be 
so fraught with distress and sorrow, as it would be 
the disposal of life according to the owner's value 
thereof. But when many are interested therein, and 
every day brings heartaches and ceaseless longings, 



INTEMPERANCE. 141 

and every night dreams and cries of woe, to loving 
hearts, then it ceases to be a matter of personal liberty, 
and becomes a question of right to distress others in 
whose hearts we are held dear. If our influence ex- 
tended to no one, then it might appear well to dispose 
of our lives according to our own desires, but when 
every act, every thought and appearance affects others 
with wonderful force, then surely no one has the 
right to choose such a course as will' influence others 
for evil. There is, however, a point that the majority 
fail to observe. Life is a gift from God and should 
be used for his glory ; for while many think they are 
" boss of themselves," he has far more right to control, 
for without his permission no one could live or move. 
He holds the thread of life, and when his mercy, 
love, and grace cease to appeal to an individual in sin, 
then comes death and eternal punishment. 

Besides the injury done to the victim of strong 
drink there is the great evil of transmitting the appe- 
tite for it to the children, even to the " third and 
fourth generation, 7 ' besides the enfeebled constitutions 
that come as a legacy from those who have nothing 
better to give to those they so cruelly have wronged 
by lives of self-indulgence. 

Surely it is right for each individual to examine 
thoroughly every step he takes, considering his own 
welfare and the influence upon those dear to him. As 
I look back over the past, I remember an acquaintance 
who was a man of influence when I entered the rank- 
as public-school teacher, and was one to grant my 



142 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

first certificate. His family stood high in social life, 
and was known for miles around for religious zeal and 
devotion. The home was a happy one, with influence 
for education and intellectual development. As years 
passed rumors came that this young man, while mak- 
ing his mark in his chosen profession, was beginning 
to drink occasionally to help him in his work, by 
stimulating his mind to logic, and his tongue to elo- 
quence. Afterward tidings reached us that he had oc- 
casional sprees, in which he lost completely all control 
of himself and was ruining his business. Then again, 
we heard that as the times of intoxication approached 
he would hide himself from his family and be a source 
of deep concern and sorrow. At such times his mother 
would leave her village home, enter the city, and go 
from place to place among the dens of vice until she 
found her son ; then take him to some quiet place to 
recover himself, and then restore him to his wife and 
children. But the frail body could not long endure 
such a strain, and he passed away in the prime of life, 
mourned over by a throng of acquaintances who had 
expected much of him, in early life. Sad, sad ! that 
any one should be so deceived by the wine-glass, when 
the word of wisdom says, " He that is deceived the-re- 
bv is not wise." 

Sometimes an inherited appetite for strong drink 
lies dormant until the first glass arouses it to intense 
strength, and overcomes every reason and conscience 
scruple, and gains control of mind, will, and body, 
and casts down to destruction those whose every pros- 



INTEMPERANCE. 143 

pect for life was bright and glowing with hope and 
desire. It takes from them the bright prospects, the 
joyous hopes, the ambitious desire, and makes them 
beings groveling for the most sensual pleasures, and 
yet gaining more of sorrow as the years go by. 

While the first effect of liquor may be a pleasure- 
able exhilaration of spirits that is very enjoyable, and 
the insensible condition following a release from 
activity of thought and motion that may be able to 
" drown trouble " for a time, the after effect is as full 
of sorrow as the first was of joy, and the depression 
greater than the exhilaration, and the " sobering up " 
the darkest time of life to the inebriate. 

This is the reason that drunkards keep drinking to 
prolong their sprees. Many a man drinks himself 
dead rather than to sober up and come back to the 
realities of a life of shame and battle with conscience. 
Most drinking men will acknowledge in their sober 
moments that it would be better not to touch liquor, 
but it has so gained the mastery that they are not free 
to make the choice that they would like to. Some- 
times they think they can, and will make what they 
and their friends consider such strong resolutions that 
they will never break them, and they rejoice in the 
prospect of victory. Then begins a battle that is 
fought to the depths of despair more often than to the 
heights of victory for right. 

There is a way in which every battle may be vic- 
torious for the oppressed, and that is by obtaining the 
help of God. Many have taken the temperance pledge 



144 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

and tried hard to keep it, but failed because greater is 
the foe than human strength; but let the failing one 
look to the Lord and receive his strength and grace 
through the salvation of his soul, and he will obtain 
the most glorious victory that tongue ever voiced in 
praise to God. The victim of strong drink is made 
just as free from its bondage and appetite as though 
he had never tasted it, and the effects upon the body 
are just as fully removed as though they had never 
existed. Oh, how merciful and loving our God is to 
poor, weak man ! He takes the drunkard from the 
gutter, all forsaken of friends, destitute of manhood, 
filthy within and without, devoid of strength of will 
and courage, and makes him a man, gives him friends 
of Christian brothers and sisters, makes him clean 
within and without, gives him strength and grace ac- 
cording to his need, and encourages his heart with the 
joys of salvation, and gives him power to will and to 
do his good pleasure ; thus giving victory over all the 
power of the Devil and his works, and thus making 
him triumph in Christ Jesus. Wonderful, wonder- 
ful ! Yes, wonderful is the religion of Jesus. " Let 
the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted : 
but the rich, in that he is made low/' He maketh us 
" kings and priests unto God," and gives us the priv- 
ilege of serving him " without fear, in holiness and 
righteousness before him, all the days of our life." 

Some of those who are in the ranks of drunkards 
were brought there by the lack of wisdom in parents 
and physicians. Oftentimes when sickness enters the 



IXTEMPERAXCE. 145 

family circle, the most convenient doctor is called, 
regardless of his principles ; and as many of them 
are somewhat intemperate, it is no wonder they pre- 
scribe wines, brandies, beer, whisky, etc., as stimu- 
lants, thus bringing the youthful patient under the 
deceptive influence of alcohol. Par better would it 
be to allow the dear one to pass away from earth with- 
out the use of the remedies than to have him live and 
finally go down to a drunkard's grave and punishment. 
Years ago from sad experience, before I knew the 
healing power of God, I determined that none of my 
family should be permitted to use stimulants that 
would encourage toward the drink habit. 

Here is a young man who in ignorance of the effects 
of secret evil habits has brought upon himself severe 
afflictions, and so he resorts to physicians for kelp. 
Tkev examine, and advise first one medicine and tkeii 
anotker, until the patient is discouraged; and then 
they express the opinion that beer or wine might help 
him considerably. He tries it, and under its influence 
thinks he is much improved; and so continues its use 
for some time, vainly imagining he is receiving much 
benefit, but never getting where he can leave it off. 
Thus the habit is formed, and soon stronger drink 
takes its place and the poor boy is on the downward 
track, and is soon lost to friends and dear ones. Oh, 
the heartaches, the unspeakable sorrow, and tke vain 
regrets. "Would that we had used more wisdom and 
suffered not the wine-cup to tear our boy from the 
hearts of love and home." If the knowledge of this 



146 MOTHEKS* COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS.' 

great wrong should keep some one's precious boys 
from the same sad way, our hearts would rejoice and 
praise God for the blessed opportunity of sowing good 
seed. 

Drunkards are to be pitied, and should receive our 
kindest treatment, and be instructed in the ways of 
truth and salvation. Many times Christian people 
look upon them as too hard to reach with the Gospel, 
and so do nothing for them to win them away from the 
great evil. "Do unto others as ye would that men 
should do unto you" would make all very earnest for 
their salvation from sin, and help all to pray for them 
and to warn them in love to their souls. My heart 
was wonderfully touched and impressed with the 
words of a poor homeless orphan boy: "I do not re- 
member that any one ever advised me for my good 
during my youthful days." Oh, how thankful we 
mothers are for the privilege of warning, advising, and 
instructing so many with these little talks with our 
sons ! If these words should reach any one who is 
beginning to walk in the way of strong drink, oh ! let 
us advise you, as mothers with tears and prayers, to 
abandon it at once, and flee to God for deliverance, 
comfort, and peace, that your immortal soul is hunger- 
ing for. 

A sober and virtuous life has more of joy and 
pleasure than one of sin and folly, even in this 
world. The Christian life far exceeds our imagina- 
tion in what is good and desirable. 

Let us see what the Bible says about this -subject. 



INTEMPERANCE. 11' 



it 



TToe unto them that rise up early in the morning, 
that they may follow strong drink; that continue 
until night, till wine inflame theni!" — Isa. 5:11. 
" Who hath woe? Who hath sorrowf Who hath 
contentions I Who hath babblings : Who hath 
wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? 
They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek 
mixed wine." — Prov. 23 : 29, 30. u Woe unto him 
that giveth his neighbor drink." — Hab. 2:15. If 
any one is thinking about taking up the habit of drink- 
ing intoxicating beverages, he ought to consult the 
word of God first, as it has much to say upon that 
important subject. Here is an extract from a religious 
paper, that seems quite suitable for boys to read: 

" The Bible axd Wine." 

" The Bible is a total abstinence book. Five 
times it totally prohibits wine-drinking ; twelve times 
it refers to wine as a poison — poison of asps and 
dragons. There are 131 warnings and reproofs 
against wine. There is no word of approval of wines 
that intoxicate, and which at last ' bite like a serpent 
and sting like an adder.' The wine which is an em- 
blem of salvation is not the kind of wine which is the 
emblem of damnation. There is as clear a line of dis« 
tinetioii between them as there is between good and 
bad men, or black and white horses, and % the way 
faring though a fool shall not err therein/ " 

Now, boys, here is a little poem that is right to 
the point, which was selected by a schoolboy in 



148 MOTHERS COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

Pennsylvania. If every one will commit it to mem- 
ory, it may prove a great benefit all through life, in 
strengthening decision for right. 

SAY NO. 

Dare to say " No," when you're tempted to drink, 
Pause for a moment, my brave boy, and think ; 
Think of the wrecks upon life's ocean tossed, 
For answering ' ' Yes " without counting the cost. 

Think of the mother who bore you in pain, 
Think of the tears that will soon fall like rain, 
Think of the heart and how cruel the blow, 
Think of her love, and at once answer " No." 

Think of the hopes that are drowned in the bowl, 
Think of the danger to body and soul, 
Think of sad lives, once as pure as the snow ; 
Look at them now, and at once answer " No. " 

Think, too, of manhood with rum-tainted breath, 
Think of its end and the terrible death ; 
Think of the homes that now shadowed with woe 
Might have been heaven had the answer been " No. " 

Think of lone graves both unwept and unknown, 
Hiding fond hopes that were fair as your own ; 
Think of proud forms, now forever laid low, 
That still might be here, had they learned to say " No." 

Think of the demon that lurks in the bowl, 

Driving to ruin both body and soul ; 

Think of all this as life's journey you go, 

And when you're assailed by the tempter, say "No" 



SECEET SIX 



Theee is in every individual an inclination to a cer- 
tain course of action, because of inherited tendency, or 
surrounding influence upon the natural disposition. 
We see quite small children manifesting different 
traits of character. A boy may be very energetic, like 
his grandfather ; sharp in trade, like his father ; or very 
kind-hearted and patient with the sick and troubled, 
like his mother. Another one may show a very proud, 
rebellious nature, with great love for the good and 
noble in life and character that he fails to engraft into 
his own because of the love of approval, that is 
stronger than any other consideration. 

Xow, boys, do you not see that it is unwise to do as 
we please, because our inclinations run in certain di- 
rections, justwalk in those ways for our own pleasure I 
That would be making ourselves mere machines con- 
trolled by influence and surroundings, instead of con- 
quering inclination and circumstances by a loyalty to 
judgment and reason. Would it be a noble life to 
follow our inclinations because it is easier and more- 
pleasant? "Would that be seeking the best of life? 
Oh, no; we have greater battles to fight with ourse!v< - 
than with circumstances or individuals. To make our 
lives sublime we need to have every evil inclination 
removed and every right one strengthened. While 

149 



150 MOTHERS COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

many are just drifting along in life, choosing their 
own course and pleasures as seem most attractive be- 
cause of their natural disposition, they often do so 
from lack of consideration, or instruction that should 
have been given quite early in life. While we are 
sure some would take their own way regardless of 
warning or instruction, there are very many who err 
more from lack of wisdom than from real opposition 
to what is good, especially in the early years of life, 
before habits and opinions are firmly formed. 

As we have before mentioned we want to talk of 
those things that will be for the welfare of the entire 
being — soul, mind, and body. The body, as the house 
of clay in which the mind and soul abide, needs a 
portion of care and honor. It is a wonderful mechan- 
ism. Every organ has a good use, and one cannot 
boast itself above another. "We Christian mothers 
think very much of our children's bodies, and look 
after their interests with unwearied care. Here is the 
baby, with its delicate little members, wdio must be 
kept warm, clean, and properly fed, and rested with 
change of position, and comfortable place. Then the 
next little toddler must be kept from harm from 
scissors, knives, open doors, fire, unwholesome food, 
and bathed and put to rest at suitable hours. 

And now comes " papa's boy," who follows his 
father from place to place all day long; surely lie must 
have suitable clothes to keep him warm and dry while 
he trudges through damp and frosty places, " doin ? 
chores" for everybody. As mother clothes and 



SECRET SIN. 151 

dresses the little manly form in f resh, clean garments, 
she tells him he is growing into a nice strong boy and 
he must take good care of himself and never do any- 
thing naughty to his little body, and be sure never to 
let any one see him naked; for that is shame, and if 
any other boys do so to run away from them. Mother's 
little talks and watchful care impress the mind, and 
he is free to tell her of the " bad boys who do naughty 
things " when they are by themselves; and so the 
mother increases her instruction, and tells him how 
very wickedly some boys use their bodies, which were 
made for a wise and good purpose. So little by little 
as the mind expands and inquires into deeper things, 
she unfolds to him what every child must know in 
some way sooner or later, and in such love and con- 
cern that the lessons are not soon forgotten. He is 
told to keep his mind from dwelling upon secret 
things, but to learn his lessons at school and take an 
interest in everything that is good and will make him 
a useful man. Occasionally she gives him something 
to read that will help him to see the bad effects of 
secret evils, and reminds him of her concern for his 
welfare and honor. 

There has been a time in the recent past when all 
such instruction was counted useless and unwise, as 
well as immodest, by many of the worldly-wise people; 
but the sad results of such a course are seen on every 
side in the wrecks of manhood and the dreadful 
diseases that are afflicting the young as a consequence 
of secret evils. Some have been afraid that the in- 



152 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

struction given would only cause some who were be- 
fore ignorant of evil to take advantage of their knowl- 
edge, and enter into evil. Surely it would be a very 
depraved being who would thus abuse the instruction 
that was intended for such great good. My respect 
for our youth is too great to harbor that thought for 
an instant. Of all the testimonies and experiences 
that have been read, heard, or seen, not one came from 
too much instruction, but all from the lack of it. 
Boys, girls, women, and men are regretting that 
through ignorance they became enslaved to the habit 
of self-abuse of the sexual organs. 

While perhaps most of our boys know what that 
means, there may be some who do not; therefore it is 
best to make it clear to them. It would be w r ell if 
every father and mother in the land had given their 
children such teaching as would have made it unneces- 
sary to write it to them, but as many parents are them- 
selves ignorant of the great sexual evils that are taking 
our children to untimely graves or sinking them into 
deepest sin and degradation, it becomes very necessary 
to do so. By the help of God it shall be so worded 
that it need not offend the modesty of any one; and 
although the depths of the evil may be deeper and 
greater than imagined, it is true, and words cannot 
really depict the awful state that exists because of it. 
Just the same as words fail to describe the sorrows 
arising from intemperance. 

Self-abuse is the self-use of the sexual organs 
in order to obtain certain pleasurable feelings. 



SECRET SIN. 



153 



Most individuals come into possession of a natural 
power during the early years of life, termed 
sexuality. The age of its development varies 
according to circumstantial influence and in- 
herited tendencey. It sometimes appears at the early 
age of four years, although the average is between 
eight and fifteen years. The earlier it is developed 
the more likely it is to be abused through ignorance 
in innocency. Parents have been awakened to the 
clanger of their children by a little child freely per- 
forming the sinful act, without shame, before them ; 
although the tendency is to secrecy and shame, so 
much so that mothers may watch with vigilance day 
and night without obtaining evidence, except in the 
symptoms upon the children. One mother knew 
nothing of the evil habit until five of her children 
confessed to it in mature vears, and wondered whv 
she had withheld such instruction as would have saved 
them from years of sorrow and shame. 

Another mother being warned by her husband, 
who was a physician, to "watch carefully her children 
in every way possible for secret sin" was much sur- 
prised in later years by the assurance of another physi- 
cian that her children were dying of quick consump- 
tion caused by the practice of this secret evil. She 
was not convinced till the suffering ones admitted 
the fact and wondered why nothing was written or 
said about the evil and its awful effects upon the 
physical system, that children might beware of it and 
avoid an early death through severe diseases. 



154 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

Why parents should have such an aversion to con- 
fidential conversation with their children seems 
strange, when they are most generally quite free to 
speak of secret things among themselves. If boys 
or girls could come into possession of property at an 
early age, the parents would not hesitate to inform 
them upon business principles and make suggestions 
as to its improvement and care. Sexuality is prop- 
erty that is very essential to life and happiness, and 
nothing needs greater care all through life, in order to 
perfectly fulfill its mission in this world. How kind 
and wise therefore are those parents who will inform 
their children of this Gk>d-created power entrusted to 
them, and instruct them as to its use and care, that it 
may not be abused or misused for its degeneration 
and that of its owner. 

It is no wonder when an uninstructed child begins 
to realize strange feelings and impulses, that he should 
try to investigate matters and that he should conclude 
that it was given to afford pleasure. But let him be 
told that sexuality is the gift of manhood and woman- 
hood to be properly used in married life, and in order 
to have it arrive at a perfect state it must not be 
abused during the years of boyhood and girlhood, the 
child at once grasps the situation and proves himself 
a man by keeping his purity. 

If any faculty of the body is misused or overused, it 
becomes weakened and affects the entire body, accord- 
ing to the Scripture: " Whether one member suffer, all 
the members suffer with it," If the eye is overused 



SECEET SIX. 155 

by too steady application to fine work or misused by 
compelling it to service in insufficient light or too 
strong light, the sight becomes affected, and the entire 
body suffers with it and is disabled from perfect labor. 
Now the sexual organs of both sexes are more 
susceptive to injury from improper use or overuse 
than the eve, and when thev are used in childhood in 
improper ways, the evil effect upon the entire being 
cannot be conceived. The body is weakened; does 
not properly develop in stature and in strength of dif- 
ferent organs. The mind ceases to mature, and the 
physical being is a mere wreck. The effect upon 
the morals is even more marked and deeply to be de- 
plored; the being becomes controlled by the lowest 
desires and impulses, his thoughts dwell upon im- 
purity and the boy-man has fallen from his high 
estate — to the plane of the beast. 

Xow, bovs, we know vou are not ashamed for us 
to talk thus plainly with you: for those who were not 
taught, concerning these things by parents, know that 
what we have said is true, from their own or other'- 
experience. Many of vou have wondered how other- 
lived, and those you have spoken to about it haw- 
laughed and joked and persuaded that "boys are b >ys, 
and men are men, and all do about alike — just as they 
please." It is sad to think how far degeneracy on 
this line has extended. The majority of men and 
boys think the stronger their sexuality is the more 
"manly" they are, when the truth is the less manly 



156 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

they are, if it controls tlieni instead of them con- 
trolling it. 

When sexuality is abused, either in or out of the 
marriage relation, it is lust and is numbered as one of 
the sins for which man must suffer punishment; as 
it is unlawful, carnal desire when beyond the law of 
righteousness. Then how necessary that every one 
should know where the line of righteousness lies, and 
measure to it in the fear of God. Many think they 
have such strongly developed sexuality that they must 
be humored and made exception of, when the trouble 
lies in their not resisting the lustful spirit that is fast 
taking possession of them. Those who are troubled 
on the line of sexual desire need to resist that evil 
with steadfastness and look to God for deliverance, 
just the same as the tobacco-user or the drunkard, 
God has a blessed and wonderful deliverance for those 
bound by the habit of self-abuse or any other secret 
evil. They can be made just as free from it as though 
they had never misused their God-given powers. Most 
of the sad results of that evil upon the individuals 
may be removed by fervent, effectual prayer. How 
good to think when we have ruined ourselves in un- 
righteous w r ays, that God will stoop to touch us with 
his healing and restoring power, and make us anew ! 
Oh, dear boys, will you not stop grieving such a lov- 
ing, heavenly Father, and receive his help, that you 
may be strong, pure, upright men that can honor 
him by holy lives ? 

When boys ignorantly enter upon bad habits they 



SECKET SIX. 157 

are not aware of what is to follow their course of 
action. A sister told me of the sad life of a boy ac- 
quaintance. He was a very bright boy, was well 
raised, and inclined to intellectual pursuits, with 
strong desire for a classical education. His parents 
were very loving and wished to gratify their only 
child's aspirations, and so put forth great efforts to 
send him to college. Away from home influence, he 
became companion of those who had formed bad habits 
and were anxious to initiate others into secret self- 
indulgence. He learned these evil lessons quite as 
readily as others do, and having a highly nervous or- 
ganization the evil effects followed rapidly. He lost 
his interest in study, and indulged in all the follies of 
his companions, until his physical constitution was a 
wreck and his mental faculties impaired. It was not 
long until it became necessary to inform the parents of 
his inability to continue in school. His parents were 
grief-stricken and lamented sending him there, con- 
sidering it the severe mental application that had 
wrought the evil. 

Returning home he continued to weaken in mind 
and body, until the physician recommended him to the 
insane asylum, in order to have the best medical skill 
for mental trouble. Oh ! sad indeed was the day when 
the poor parents bade him farewell to enter upon a 
life of mental darkness and wretchedness among 
strangers. 

Months passed, and the parents visited him, hoping 
and praying that some sign of improvement might 



3 58 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

encourage their hearts ; but instead of that they were 
well nigh crushed by the sight that met their aston- 
ished gaze. The boy — their precious boy, their only 
son — was bound hand and foot, " in order to prevent 
him from abusing himself/' as the caretakers ex- 
pressed it. The parents were indignant, as they were 
sure " he was not guilty of such a debasing practice." 
The physicians were called, and they informed the 
weeping parents of the truth of the statement, and 
explained the circumstances and the need of confine- 
ment. They said that it was only one of many such 
cases. That having a nervous temperament he was 
not able to endure the strain of the secret evils learned 
at school and had been so prostrated that the mind was 
entirely overpowered, and that the only hope of im- 
provement was in confining him so as to restrain him 
from further abuse, until his body and mind had re- 
ceived strength, when he could be so instructed as to 
avoid the cause of all the trouble. The parents were 
amazed, and could not be reconciled to the situation. 
The physicians said they were willing they should be 
convinced, and would unbind him and leave him in 
their care for an hour, unless they should call for help 
from the caretakers in the next room. The parents 
agreed to this, and he was set free and received the 
caresses of parental love and watchful care. They 
had not been alone long before he began to act very 
strangely : walked the room in great excitement, look- 
ing around nervously, wringing and working his 
hands ; then seemingly perfectly unconscious of others' 



SECRET SIN. 159 

presence, he knelt in the corner furthest away in the 
dark shadows and was soon making every effort toward 
the evil that was destroying him. The cry for help 
rang out in accents of horror, and he was soon bound 
by the help of the parents, who were now fully con- 
vinced of its need. 

Do you think those parents regretted their ig- 
norance, and the lack of instruction given to their 
child on such an important matter ? Do you think 
they would have been sorry if Christian mothers had 
given him a few confidential talks through a book? 
Oh, no ; they would now rejoice if it were possible to 
turn back the wheels of time two years, and give them 
or some one else an hour for quiet forcible counsel on 
secret things. But that could not be; for " lost oppor- 
tunities never return/' and their sad hearts must feel as 
long as life shall last the sad effect of neglected duty. 

The boy seemed to improve for a time, but the close 
confinement and restriction of the body, united with 
its already weak condition, made it a quick prey for a 
prevailing fever, and soon the summons came to the 
parents, "Come quickly." They hastened and reached 
the sick-bed in time to behold returning reason and to 
hear the sad laments of a ruined life, and to point him 
to the Lamb of God who forgiveth all manner of sin, 
and to have a hope that his soul was anchored within 
the haven of eternal rest ; then to carry the poor, 
abused and wasted body to the home cemetery to fill 
an untimely grave, for broken-hearted parents to weep 
over during their lonely, childless years of life. 



160 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

Do you know, boys/ that this great sin of masturba- 
tion is not hidden from human eyes ? Do you know 
that as physicians and many others look into your 
faces and upon your forms they behold the secret of 
your life ? They pity you, and would love to reach 
you with words of warning, but the false modesty of 
worldly pride holds them back. Speak them, brother 
and sister, regardless of " what the world says/' and 
clear yourselves of the blood of all men. Speak them 
gently in the Spirit, in love, in mercy, in entreaty, and 
in faith, and trust the rest in God's hands. 

While not all may suffer alike severely, there is not 
a greater drain upon the physical and mental systems 
than that of self-abuse. First, it is unnatural ; 
second, it is done prematurely; third, its influence is 
to extreme excess, until there is no control over the life 
fluid, and lost manhood w T ith all its terrible ills is the 
result. Hardly a paper reaches us from worldly 
circles but has several advertisements of wonderful 
cures for those who through youthful excesses have 
lost their manly vigor and strength. For all this, 
many are those who have " spent all upon many 
physicians and are rather the worse." Hope fled, 
strength gone, a manless man, a misery to himself and 
friends ; no wonder he gives way to the sly voice of 
temptation, and " makes an end of all by his own sui- 
cidal hands" — just what the evil one wanted to ac- 
complish when the first impure and sensual thought 
was given to the boy, and the first act of self-destruc- 
tion performed in secret. 



SECRET SIN. 161 

Oh, my boys ! be sure "your sin will find you out" 
sooner or later. By this self-debasing and sinful habit 
you unfit yourself for a happy married life, and are 
unfit to take to yourself a pure-minded and chaste 
wife, and unfit to have the care and love of dear little 
children. "Would you think it fair to ask a pure, 
chaste, virtuous woman, strong in her womanhood, 
and pure in love and respect for manhood, to link 
her life to a poor abused man, impure in thought and 
in action, a mere wreck of manhood? Do you want 
to be united for life to one on the same level as your- 
self? If not, then do not force yourself upon some 
one who in ignorance dreams you are all that is good 
and manly, only to be made sorrowful as she beholds 
the true state of her husband? Sad indeed must be 
that union that is unequal, virtue with impurity, or 
equal impurity with impurity. Then, boys, keep 
yourselves as pure as you wish your loved ones to be. 
You have no right to think that women should live 
pure while you can do as you please. Fairness de- 
mands, and God expects, virtue and sexual purity 
from one, just as much as from the other. And we 
Christian mothers are holding our boys and girls to 
the same plane of virtuous living. 

The way of escape from this evil is so blessed, so 
pure and holy, that we wish every sin-bound soul 
could see it and become willing to take it for his 
present and eternal welfare. Stop, dear reader, and 
ponder. Are you free to do what you know is right? 
Or are vou bound bv some fetter or band of sin? Tf 



162 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

so, there is One who can make yon a servant of 
righteousness, free from sin and sinful ways. We have 
several letters we wish you to read from those whom 
God has made free from secret sin. When these dear 
ones saw their evil and hated it so badly as to turn 
from it ; the Savior met them with forgiveness and 
made them whole again, and they in love and sym- 
pathy desire to show you that he is just as able and 
willing to help you, if you come forsaking and con- 
fessing your sin. 



Dear Boys: 

As I think of you as some mother's dear boys, 
and remember that the " enemy of all good " is ever 
on the watch to destroy every pure boy and his open 
confidence with his mother, I feel quite anxious to 
write you a letter. 

It is so commonly thought that boys can have and 
take more liberties than girls and do no harm, that 
•I want to warn you. There is just as much harm to 
your present life and the life hereafter; for God is no 
respecter of persons. He created the man just as 
holy as the woman, and according to the law of nature 
he must live holy and pure, or the effects of sin will 
be the same upon himself and those who follow after. 
The cry must go forth for pure brothers, fathers, and 
sons; or else the effort to better the world by pure 
sisters, mothers, and daughters will amount to little. 



SECKET SIN. 163 

Do not think you can swear, chew, smoke, drink, 
gamble, or use your body or its members in any way 
that would not be becoming in your sisters. Dear 
boys, God loves you. He gave his only begotten Son 
that you might be saved. You will find this world 
is no friend to grace to help you on to God. So give 
it up, and love to be the Lord's boys. 

I wish to warn you of the strongest hold the Devil 
will try to get upon you; and it is one on which you 
must help yourself, as no earthly friend can aid you. 
It is in your secret hours, by yourself, or in company 
with wicked men or boys, that your enemy will try 
to entrap you into the practice of secret vice. I know 
the world cries, " It is according to nature;" and men 
plead, " It is no harm or God would not have made 
us so." It is harm, as the ruined minds and bodies 
of millions prove. God did not make men in their 
present sinful inclinations. He made them pure, and 
with pure thoughts; but sin has passed from father to 
son until they are thus defiled. Ezekiel tells us that 
the son shall not answer for the sin of his father, in 
the day that he turneth from his sin. 

Jesus not onlv saves from sin, but he will remove 
the effects of sin, from all who call upon him out of a 
pure heart. May God save the boys is the praver of 

" Aunt Mary." 



My Dear Boys: 

I am so glad you are to have a book for yourselves 
of motherly counsel and love; for we all love the 



164 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

bright, noisy boys and would be pleased to do any- 
thing to help them in any way possible. Being a 
mother of boys, I do praise God that he has given me 
light upon the great evils that are practiced in these 
" last days/' and enabled me to instruct them concern- 
ing the great disaster which always follows in the 
train of evil habits. 

There are many dear boys w T ho for lack of teaching 
are destroying their bodies by practicing secret vice 
and bringing themselves to early graves; which is not 
the worst side of the dark picture, for they cannot 
spend eternity with the pure in heaven when their 
hands and bodies have been polluted by destroying 
their own lives. Therefore, I feel led to w T rite you 
this letter. 

"When last visiting my sister in the country, I was 
very much grieved to hear of the death of a dear boy 
in that neighborhood at the age of sixteen. The 
doctors said he was dying of quick consumption, but 
on his death-bed he confessed that the cause of his 
death was self-abuse. He could not die until he had 
made this confession to his mother, telling how a 
woman who had the care of him had taught him the 
habit and how he would often go alone and practice 
the evil until he would not have life enough to walk 
back up the garden walk, but would have to wait until 
a little strength returned to him. At the age of six- 
teen he died an awful death, and has left his record 
for you to read. 

Oh, my dear boys! do take warning, and if 



SECRET SIN. 165 

you have commenced to smoke, which almost 
always leads to other bad habits, after reading 
this true story of a. poor boy in England, do go right 
on your knees and pray God to help you, and we will 
pray for you too, that God will save you from every 
evil and cleanse your hearts by the precious blood of 
Jesus, who is so grieved as he looks down upon the 
dear boys, for whom he gave his life, thus destroying 
their bodies and unfitting their souls to live with him 
in heaven. You will then grow up healthy, strong, 
and manly, with happiness in this world and a bright 
eternity in the life which is to come. 

]\Iy sister told me of another boy whom I have known 
from a baby. She told me how bright and innocent 
he had always been when he would come to visit her, 
until this last year, when she was so grieved to find all 
his frank boyhood had left him and he would not wish 
to kiss her good night, although he was still very 
young, but appeared shy and retiring. She noticed, 
too, how thin and old-looking his face was getting. 
Soon afterward she received a letter from his mother 
full of concern for her boy ; for while all thought he 
was going into quick consumption, she found that ho 
was practicing secret vice, but said she felt ashamed to 
speak to him or to mention it to his father. Oh, dear 
mothers, as you read this warning, lay aside all such 
modesty and talk plainly witli your children, and in 
gentle loving words show them the great harm they 
will do their bodies if they practice this evil. You 
can bes;in to teach them while thev are very young. 



166 MOTHERS' COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

God will give you language, if you seek his wisdom, 
which will not shock them or put impure thoughts into 
their minds. Show them how sacred their little bodies 
are and how careful God wants them to be to keep 
them pure for him. The children will love you for 
it, and you will gain their confidence. 

I know a little boy very well who has been saved 
from this evil habit, and he is doing all he can to save 
other boys by giving out tracts to them, and whenever 
he has the opportunity he talks of the great evil. He 
has told me that when at school the boys had a place 
where they went to practice this evil, and the big boys 
taught the little boys, and thus hundreds are getting 
initiated into this sinful habit. 

ISTow, boys, there is a great field for you to work in 
if you get saved like this little boy. I know you can 
begin at once, and be home missionaries in rescuing 
others, and God says in his Word that " they that 
turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for- 
ever and ever." I pray God to bless you all and make 
you boys after his own heart, that you may be pillars 
in his church to go no more out forever. 
Yours in Jesus' love, 

" Aunt Kate." 



Dear Boys : With a heart full of love for souls that 
are bound in sin, I feel led to write you a short letter, 
with a prayer to God that it may instruct some boy 
into the wonderful gospel light of salvation in Jesus. 



SECRET SIN. 



167 



I was born in a country home in Kentucky and was 
my parents' joy and pride, as many little children are ; 
but little did thev dream of the demon that was seek- 
ing to destroy their boy, both soul and body. At last 
I grew out of baby years into boyhood, and not re- 
ceiving any warning from my parents in regard to 
secret things, the enemy saw his chance and ensnared 
his victim. There was a schoolmate much older than 
myself, and through him the temptation was pre- 
sented. Well do I remember the place and time, but 
being ignorant and innocent I did not resist the temp- 
tation, and the enemy of my soul had begun his bind- 
ing with the awful sin of secret vice, which led mo 
into many other wicked things, that ruined my 
health ; my parents not dreaming what was the matter 
with their boy. 

As I grew older conviction rested upon my soul, 
but I tried to fight it away; yet it grew deeper and 
deeper, until I realized fully my shame in that great 
evil and I yielded to God for his mercy, and he for- 
gave all my sins. Not having proper teaching, I lost 
the victory out of my soul, and back into old paths I 
went, until I heard the pure gospel of salvation from 
all sin preached, which I received into my heart so I 
can testify to the truth that Jesus Christ saves and 
heals soul and body from the awful habit of self-abuse, 
the use of tobacco, and many other sins. 

All praise be to Jesus' name for the victory I have 
over sin, the flesh, and the Devil. How it fills my soul 
with sorrow as I meet promising young men, yet be- 



168 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

hind the curtain we can see this awful sin lingering 
upon the soul and body. 

Dear reader, we trust you will take warning and 
flee to Jesus with your troubles and sins, whatever 
they may be. He is patiently waiting, and will par- 
don all who will come with broken and contrite hearts. 
Your affectionate brother, J . 



Pear Boys : My heart is pained as I think of the 
awful curse of secret sins ; of how many precious ones 
are caught in this delusive snare of the Devil, and al- 
most before they are aware they find themselves bound 
hand and foot, their bodies dragged to early graves, 
and their souls hastened to an awful eternity — with- 
out God and without hope ; for Paul tells us plainly 
that " they which do such things shall not inherit the 
kingdom of God."— Gal. 5 : 19-21. See also 1 Cor. 
6 : 9, 11. Yet how ignorant the great mass of boys 
are of its sad and awful results. 

Oh, boys ! God has laid it upon me to write, and 
with tears I do so, praying that some precious one 
may take warning from my bitter experience, and 
not fall into the same snare. My father was a drunk- 
ard, and (as such are licentious) so I inherited " per- 
verted amativeness," and falling into company of 
bad children at an early age I naturally fell into ways 
of lust. 



SECRET SIN. 169 

As soon as it was possible, I began to indulge in 
habits which. I practiced excessively for several years. 
I heard my parents talk about things that filled my 
mind with lustful imaginations, and longed far the 
time to come when I could indulge my depraved de- 
sires in marriage. I loved to read love stories and 
novels, and to get with other boys to talk about sensual 
things. While at my work I would allow my mind 
to be carried away in "day-dreams" of lust and 
pleasure or building air-castles of sensuality, which 
were but for the moment, only to awake to the awful 
reality that I was ruining myself and making my way 
to the grave of a suicide. 

Oh, the cleceptiveness of Satan ! How bitter is sin ! 
Though for a season we may relish it and "roll it as 
a sweet morsel under our tongues/' yet the end is sure 
to be "bitter remorse and woe." I wanted to be free, 
and tried to quit. I prayed that God would help me, 
I tried, but, alas! in vain. I found myself bound, 
hand and foot (so to speak), in the iron chains of lust, 
helpless as an infant. 

Then began the battle, I wanted to be free. Again 
and again I vowed, "This will be the last time," but 
my vows were as often broken. The Devil and my 
desire would whisper, "Just this once more, the very 
last time," but it only proved to be an unbroken chain 
of failures. I would make strong resolutions, but so 
completely was I in the control of the destroyer of 
soul and body that when temptation came I could not 
resist. ^»ly will-power was gone. Oh, wretched one 



170 MOTHERS COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

that I was; most miserable! Who would deliver me? 
"Who would help me? There were plenty of evil in- 
fluences to urge me on in evil, but were there none 
to help me get the victory? Oh, how I longed for 
human sympathy — but found none! Even God 
seemed to have forsaken me, and would not hear my 
cry, would not regard my tears. Of all the wretched, 
I felt myself most miserable. What should I do? 
Where should I go? Was there no help for me? 

In the meantime I had fallen still lower, even to 
the depth of lustful degradation, disobeying the Word 
of God (Lev. 18:23) and bringing myself into the 
most miserable condition. Trembling, fevered, 
physically exhausted, with aching head to toss upon 
my bed in awful anguish of conscience. Oh, my 
God! My God! How was it possible? Now as I 
look at it from a standpoint of salvation, I am com- 
pelled to cry, "How is it possible for man to fall s(S 
low?" Yet such is the case many times. O, God, 
deliver our boys! Oh, that parents would throw off 
the cloak of false modesty, awake to a sense of their 
duty and responsibility before God, and would in- 
struct their children in these important matters, as 
thev would in others, and thus save them from manv 
pitfalls with which their pathway is beset on every 
side. 

Finally my parents found out my sin. My mother's 
heart was almost broken ; yet they were unable to give 
me proper advice and help. My unsaved stepfather 
turned against me more and more, and in despair I 



SECRET SIN. 171 

left home, to get where no one knew me. I wished 
myself dead, was only comforted by the thought that 
this evil was my thorn in the flesh. (How far mis- 
taken!) By this time I had become so weak that I 
had no control over myself, and from "seminal weak- 
ness" my life was quietly passing away. Was there 
any hope for me? Yes, praise God! there was; for 
he had, after all, not forsaken me. I met (Was it by 
chance?) a dear young brother in whom I could con- 
fide, who proved a sympathizing friend to me and had 
himself had a bitter experience with this vice. He 
placed in my hands a book that gave me very much 
light on self-restoration, by way of temporal aid. I 
at once began to lead a life of regularity and temper- 
ance, denying myself many articles of food (which 
after all are not food) which were stimulating, took 
much exercise in the open air, kept my person clean 
by frequent cold-water hand baths, quit at once all 
reading of fiction, and applied myself to that which 
was elevating, ennobling — especially God's Word. T 
made desperate efforts to banish all evil thoughts from 
my mind as soon as they would come. 

With all this God showed me that I had not a real 
experience of salvation. I then presented myself, soul 
and body, for a. real deliverance, and my cry was 
heard, and God, for Jesus' sake, pardoned all my sins, 
broke the chains that bound, and set me free. Oh, 
praise his dear name ! "Who hath delivered us from 
the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the 
kingdom of his dear Son." — Col. 1 :13. 



■172 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

I then took the Lord as my Healer, and, "praise 
his name ! ?: I have been growing stronger and 
healthier ever since. My eyes were almost blind, but 
God has wonderfully healed them. When an evil 
thought or temptation comes to me now, I at once 
rebuke the Devil and instantly banish it from me, 
Eph. 4:27. Thus God gives me real victory at all 
times and sweet peace. 

Dear reader, God will do the same for you. 

Yours in the love of God, E 



Dear Boys: Through the mercy, long-suffering and 
loving-kindness of Gocl my Father I am permitted to 
add my experience in sin, and also of the saving grace 
of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. I am not 
glad that my life in sin was so wretched, for it is a 
shame to live so sinful. My heart is moved in grati- 
tude to my Savior for his merciful deliverance. May 
God bless this testimony and make it a benefit to some 
dear readers. 

When I was a little over eleven years old, my 
parents being dead, I was put in care of a guardian 
who placed me in the home of a school teacher. There 
I made new acquaintances and friends. Among these 
was a boy who indulged in the very sinful habit 
called "self-abuse," It was not enough for him to 



SECRET SI^. 173 

do wrong ou liis own body, and to sin against God, 
but lie must also teach it to others. I became one 
of his victims, and not knowing the awful results that 
it would have I practiced it more and more, and like 
my master I taught it to others. 

After I reached the age of fourteen I had to make 
another change, and left my foster-father's, to go to 
a city to learn a trade as an apprentice. The influ- 
ence there was not for my good, as it is written: 
"Evil communications corrupt good manners." Filthy 
conversation between the workers had its full course, 
and my young mind drew the poison in until my con- 
versation j:>artook of the same nature. Those hlthy 
talks added fuel to the fire of lust, and fastened the 
terrible habit closer to me. 

Time rolled on — my apprenticeship was over. The 
thought came that it would be better to still the awful 
lust of the flesh in the house of the harlot. Although 
I went there a short time, it gave me no relief from 
my controlling habit; for when the temptation came, 
I yielded again and again. I spent a great deal of 
money for the satisfying of my lustful nature, but all 
in vain. Xot onlv my hard-earned money went, but 
also health, manhood, and character. I became dis- 
eased with a most shameful disease, although only 
twentv vears old. O beloved reader, if you will 
escape the awful misery of a sinful life, " flee youthful 
lusts." It is hard for me to describe the shame, guilt, 
and remorse of conscience I felt. After reaching the 
age of twenty-one I left my native country and sailed 



174 MOTHERS 5 COUNSEL TO THEIR SOJXS. 

for South America. New country, climate, language, 
and people were my surroundings; but my " besetting 
sin " followed me. Like a serpent fastened, to its 
victim, so this shameful habit clung to me and bound 
me stronger than ever before. 

During this time I often tried to quit the secret 
evil, but made failure after failure. Sometimes I 
could abstain from it for a week, and at other times 
only for a few days; but often I yielded to it every 
day. Only one time, until my conversion, I abstained 
three months through a little better influence from my 
surroundings and a strong desire to live better. This 
was my happiest time from my first indulgence in that 
habit until the year 1892. I thought I was delivered 
from it, but did not know that the old serpent was 
only at rest for a little time to break forth in double 
fury. As my surroundings changed I again yielded 
to its allurements and power. My life became a 
burden to me. I traveled from city to city, from 
country to country, earning money, spending money 
— not only what I earned, but some of that which 
through the kindness of my dear parents was left to 
me. Yet in all that I was not satisfied — yea, wretched 
was my life. My conscience once so tender that I 
could not tell the slightest untruth without the blood 
rushing to my face and my heart beating as if it would 
burst, became " seared as with a hot iron." Where 
once was a tender heart there seemed to be a stone. 
Yes, wretched has been my life on many lines. I could 
tell of many sad experiences with good friends ( ?), of 



SECRET SIN. 175 

losses, sickness, and sins of many kinds; but it may 
not be in place now. 

In the year 1890 I went back to California, where 
I had been once before. My health was not good; 
although I was more careful on some lines than be- 
fore, still my secret evil was master. While at San 
Pedro keeping restaurant, a little mission sprang into 
existence. For some time the meetings were held 
there, and about Christmas I went there for the first 
time; not to seek God or deliverance from my slavish 
habits, but for the sake of a girl who was working 
there. I made fun for some time in the singing — 
where beautiful words were I placed filthy words, and 
so on. But soon I saw myself as never before. The 
Lord sent conviction to my heart, and my sins 
mounted up before me as great mountains. My heart 
seemed to be darker than the darkest night; I felt I 
was the chief of sinners. Going to another town on 
business, I tried in various usual ways to find enjoy- 
ment, but most miserable I was with " bitter remorse 
and woe " upon me. My soul cried, " I am most 
miserable." I resolved not to drink any more, and 
only one more drink I took the next day as it seemed 
most necessary to do so under my severe suffering. I 
went back home. I tried to stop swearing, to leave 
off bad and filthy words; but only succeeded in part. 
I tried to quit that bad habit, but only made a sad 
failure. Through the testimonies of those who 
claimed to be saved, there entered a desire to find the 
peace and satisfaction of which they spoke. I began 



176 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

to pray, but my misery only seemed to get the greater, 
and I became very sin-sick. 

God took my case in his hands, his goodness led me 
to repentance; he gave me that godly sorrow which 
worketh repentance unto salvation. I became willing 
to forsake all sin, my business if need be ; for I wanted 
that heavy burden removed, as it seemed I could bear 
it no longer. I thought if I could only weep it would 
be a relief to me, but there were no tears. I began to 
pray and to plead for mercy, but only felt worse. I 
stood five nights on the street, hat in hand, to pray, 
but it seemed God would not hear me. On the 20th 
of March after meeting I went again to pray, without 
finding relief; so I went back to the meeting-house, 
where a. dear brother invited me in, which I gladly 
accepted. After a little talk and a few Bible verses, 
I knelt down with him (the first time in my life) to 
pray. He prayed, and then I prayed, confessing my 
sins and calling on God for mercy. At once the long- 
sought tears began to stream down my face, the bur- 
den of my soul rolled away, and the peace of God 
entered in. Praise God forever and ever! The dear 
Lord fulfilled his w r ord : "And ye shall seek me, and 
find me, when ye shall search for me with all your 
heart." Jesus became my Savior. I was " born 
again." Praise his name ! 

Old things are past; all things are become new. 
After a life of sin until I was twenty-nine years of 
age, I found deliverance in the Lord Jesus Christ, 
freedom from the bondage of sin and bad habits. 



SECRET SIN. 177 

Great arid wonderful is the change God has wrought 

in me. Swearing, filthy and foolish talking, jesting, 
and all bad habits are gone. " If any man be in 
Christ, he is a new creature.'' Almost six years are 
past since God for Jesus' sake gave me salvation. 
During that time the Devil overcame me once — 
shortly after my conversion — on that habit of sexual 
abuse. Again God in mercy granted me true re- 
pentance and forgave me. Since that time I made a 
full surrender of myself and all to him, and he did 
cleanse me, through the precious blood of Jesus, from 
all sin, and sanctified my soul and filled me with the 
Holy Spirit. Since then I am no more troubled in 
any way by the old sinful habit, for which I do praise 
our dear Savior. 

After my conversion I had to learn to " walk in tho 
light." I had so little knowledge of the Word of God 
and his desires that I had to learn it little by little. 
and walk in the light of his Word as it shone upon me 
in its study. God has promised that his Spirit shall 
" lead us into all truth." This promise was fulfilled 
to me, and I saw different things I must do to please 
God and be obedient. Some old wrongs came up to 
be made right, and God's grace enabled me to do it. 
Other things I did not know, I had to do as the knowl- 
edge came. I love now to obey and serve Jesus. "His 
voke is easv and his burden is light." 

Dear reader, if you should be in bondage to sin or 
evil habits, come to him who is mighty to save. He 
is no respecter of persons. He will save one and all. 



178 MOTHERS COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

Seek him while lie may be found. He will give you 
life. May God bless you, and deliver you from the 
awfulness of sin, for Jesus' sake, Amen. 
Your saved brother, 

kept in Jesus' love, 

W . 

" Clap your hands, all ye people ; shout unto God 
with the voice of triumph." — Ps. 47 :1. 



AS OTHEES SEE IT. 



Oftein the readers of religious books feel great in- 
clination to take exception to unpleasant truths as pre^- 
sented therein, under the pretext that " Christian 
people are apt to make much out of little." It is a 
fact that those who are acquainted with the teachings 
of God's Word and the privileges and benefits of sal- 
vation are more apt to see the exceeding sinfulness of 
wrong-doing than those who are not looking at it from 
that standpoint. The subject of secret sin may be 
looked upon in this way by some of our readers ; there- 
fore we want to give you some extracts from those who 
view it from the point of " sexual science/' and " for 
the best good of man." 

" Personal Fornicatiox. The Worst of Sexual 

Vices." 

" Masturbation outrages nature's sexual ordinances 
more than any or all forms of sexual sin man can 
perpetrate, and inflicts consequences the most terrible. 
Would that its presentation c might pass ' but ' sexual 
science ' and the best good of man demand its fearlo-s 
exposition. 

" It is man's sin of sins, and vice of vices: and has 

179 



180 MOTHERS COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

caused incomparably more sexual dilapidation, paraly- 
sis, and disease, as well as demoralization, than all the 
other sexual depravities combined. Neither Christen- 
dom, no>r heathendom, suffers any evil at. all to com- 
pare with this; because of its universality and its 
terribly fatal ravages on body and mind; and because 
it attacks the young idols of our hearts, and hopes of 
future years. Pile all other evils together — drunken- 
ness upon all cheateries, swindlings, robberies, and 
murders, and tobacco upon both; for it is the greatest 
scourge; and all sickness, disease, and pestilence upon 
all ; and war as the cap-sheaf of them all — and all com- 
bined cause not a tithe as much human deterioration 
and misery as does this secret sin. 

" Ho! darling youth! Please listen to a little plain 
talk from one who loves you with a father's affection. 
If you were walking thoughtlessly along a pathway 
across which was a deep, miry, miasmatic slough, so 
covered that you would not notice it till you had fallen 
in and defiled yourself all over with the filthiest; most 
nauseating slime possible, so that you could never 
cleanse yourself from this stench, and so that all who 
ever saw T you would know what you had done ; beside 
it being so poisonous as to destroy forever a large part 
of all your future life, enjoyment, and capacities; and 
far more corrupting to your morals than blighting to 
health and happiness, would you not heartily thank 
any friend to kindly tell you plainly of your danger? 

" Such a danger, O splendid boy, awaits you ; only 
that it is a thousandfold worse than any description. 



AS OTHERS SEE IT. 181 

It not only poisons your body, destroys your rosy 
cheeks, breaks down your nerves, impairs your diges- 
tion, and paralyzes your whole system; but it also cor- 
rupts your morals, creates thoughts and feelings the 
vilest and the worst possible, and endangers your very 
soul's salvation. Xo words can describe the miseries 
it inflicts throughout your whole life, down to death. 
But its ravages do not stop there; they follow and 
prey on vou forever! You can never fullv rid your- 
self of the terrible evils it inflicts. You might almost 
as well die outright as thus to pollute yourself. 

u Tile pathway of life you are now traveling is 
thus beset. This danger is the secret sin of self-pol- 
lution. It is by far the worst of all the sins and vices 
to which vou are exposed. It blights nearly all. If 
it does not spoil you also, it will be because you heed 
this warning, and abstain wholly from it. Children, 
I pity you from the lowest depths of my soul, in view 
of the terrible ordeal before you; and rendered the 
more appalling by your ignorance of its evils. 

" It is called masturbation, and consists in indulg- 
ing immodest feelings and actions, and imagining 
sexual pleasures with one of the opposite sex while 
handling your own private parts. 

" Its Practice Almost Universal ix Civic Life/' 

" Most boys perpetrate it, and many females. " :: " * : ' : " * 
The most carefullv educated and religious voutli^ are 
not safe. Apply any numerical test you please; 



182 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

catechize promiscuously every boy you meet ; and nine 
in ten over nine years old practice it. Many who 
deny it in words, own up in deed, by manifesting 
shame — a sure sign of guilt. Of those still older the 
proportion is even greater. Question the keepers of 
our hospitals for bad boys and poor children. A 
friend took a boy about ten years old from an asylum, 
chastised him often and severely for this vice, but to 
no purpose; and finally kept his hands tied behind 
him, but found him incorrigible. He died soon after. 
Boys not yet four years old sometimes practice it ; and 
miHions are ruined by it before they enter their teens. 
None are safe, not even our own dear children, 
though watched however closely. The following dia- 
logue during a professional examination represents 
similar ones by thousands : 

" 'Consumption, madam, is rapidly fastening on 
your son.' 'I know it, and expect to lose him within 
a year, as I lately lost his brother.' 'He can be saved 
by giving up its only cause, masturbation.' 'You 
are mistaken! My husband had many patients with 
that disease ; he charged me to watch our boys closely 
— sheets, linen., etc. — which I have done with a 
mother's vigilance from boyhood. You are positively 
wrong.' 'How is this, young man? You know and 
dare not falsify.' 'I have polluted myself all the way 
up from boyhood, as did my brother. I knew, then, 
that this practice caused his death. And our sister, 
too, does the same thing/ 

"Dr. Woodward, who so long and ably presided 



AS 0THEKS SEE IT. 18 



over the Worcester Lunatic Asylum, higher authority 
than whom could hardly be quoted, a discreet man, 
who means all he says, writes thus touching it : 'Those 
who think that information on this subject is either 
unnecessary or injurious are hardly aware how ex- 
tensively known this habit is with the young, or how 
early in life it is sometimes practiced. I have never 
conversed with a lad twelve years of age who did not 
know all about the practice, and understand the 
language used to describe it.' 

"This is a topic in physiology which artificial 
modesty has covered up, until a solitary but fatal vice 
is spreading desolation throughout our schools and 
families, unnoticed and unknown. k Thousand of pure- 
minded and amiable boys and young men are under- 
mining their physical constitution, and prospectively 
corrupting their souls by a pleasurable, and, to many 
of them, innocent gratification.' — Wm. G. Wood- 
bridge. 

" 'Self-pollution is undoubtedly one of the most 
common causes of ill health among the young men 
of this country. This practice is almost universal. 
Boys commence it at an early age, and the habit once 
formed, like intemperance, becomes almost uncon- 
querable. In boarding-schools and colleges it obtains, 
oftentimes, without exception. Hence the many 
sickly students, and the many young men of the most 
brilliant and promising talents, who have broken their 
constitutions, ruined their health, and must leave 
college, as it is said " by hard study." ' — Dr. Snow. 



184 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

"Its Terrible Effects on Body and Mind." 

" ' 'No other tree bears fruit as bitter or poisonous. 
We will mention a few only, for their tithe would fill 
the earth with volumes, as they have with woes. Its 
drain upon the vital forces is indeed terrible. Semen 
contains forty times more vital force than an equal 
amount of red blood right from the heart. Think 
what wonders it accomplishes. Many of the ills 
which, come upon the young at and after puberty arise 
from this habit, persisted in so as to waste their vital 
energies and enervate their physical and mental 
powers. Mature designs that this drain should be re- 
served to mature age, and even then be made but 
sparingly. Sturdy manhood, in all its vigor, loses its 
energy and bends under the too frequent expenditure 
of this important secretion; and no age or condition 
will protect a man from the danger of unlimited in- 
dulgence, though legally and naturally exercised. In 
the young, however, its influence is much more 
seriously felt; and even those who have indulged so 
cautiously as not to break down their health or mind 
cannot know how much their physical energy, mental 
vigor, and moral purity have been weakened by this 
indulgence. IsTo cause produces as much insanity. 
The records of the institutions give an appalling cat- 
alogue of cases attributed to it. Consumption, spinal 
distortions, weak and painful eyes, weak stomachs, 
nervous headaches, and a host of other diseases mark 
its influence upon the body; loss of memory and the 



- AS OTHERS SEE IT. 185 

power of application, insanity, idiotisin show its 
devastating effects upon the mind.' — Dr. Woodward. 

u 'The empire which this odious practice gains over 
the senses is beyond expression. Xo sooner does this 
uncleanness get possession of the heart than it pursues 
its votaries everywhere, and governs them at all times 
and in all places. Upon the most serious occasions, 
and in the solemn acts of religion they find themselves 
transported with lustful conceptions and desires which 
take up all their thoughts/ — Tissot. 

" ' The sin of self -pollution is one of the most de- 
structive evils ever practiced by fallen man. In many 
respects it is several degrees worse than common 
whoredom, and has in its train more awful conse- 
quences. It excites the powers of nature to undue 
action and produces violent secretions which neces- 
sarily and speedily exhaust the vital principles and 
energy; hence the muscles become flacid and feeble; 
the true and natural action of the nerves, relaxed and 
impeded; the understanding, confused; the memory, 
oblivious ; the judgment, perverted ; and the will, 
wholly without energy to resist. The eyes appear 
languishing and without expression, and the counte- 
nance vacant. Appetite ceases, for the stomach is in- 
capable of performing its proper office; nutrition fails; 
tremors, fears, and terrors are generated, and thus the 
wretched victim drags out a miserable existence, till, 
superannuated, even before he had time to arrive at 
mans estate, with a. mind often debilitated even to 
a state of idiotism, his worthless body tumbles into the 



186 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

grave, and his guilty soul (guilty of seli-murder) is 
hurried into the awful presence of the Judge! 

" 'Evader, this is no caricature, nor are the colorings 
overcharged in this shocking picture. Worse woes 
than my pen can relate I have witnessed in thoso 
addicted to this fascinating, unnatural, and most de- 
structive of crimes. If thou hast entered into the 
snare, flee from destruction, both of body and mind, 
that awaits thee! God alone can save thee; advice, 
warnings, threatenings, increasing debility of body, 
mental decay, checks of conscience, expostulations of 
judgment, and medical assistance will all be lost on 
thee. God and God alone can save thee from an evil 
which has in its issue the destruction of thy body, and 
the final perdition of thy sould.' — Adam Clarke. 

" All sexual sins are condemned bv the entire 
Bible. Look at its denunciation of fornication, adul- 
tery, etc. God grant that you may be kept from 
both ; but if you indulge in masturbation as the lesser 
sin and evil, you certainly err. Private fornication 
causes twenty times more misery than any other 
sexual sin ; and this is substantially the opinion of all 
who have examined this subject. * * * Abstain 
totally and forever. Every indulgence weakens hope, 
and is like rowing down the Niagara rapids, instead 
of toward the banks. Gradual emancipation like 
leaving off drinking by degrees, will certainly in- 
crease both indulgence and suffering. This is true 
of all bad habits and doubly of this. Now is the ac- 
cepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation, 



AS OTHERS SEE IT. 187 

Indulgence is triple ruin. Abstinence or death is 
your only alternative. Stop now and forever or 
abandon all hope. Will you long debate which of the 
two to choose — ' slavery and death/ and such a death; 
or abstinence and life ? Do you i return to your wal- 
lowing ? and give up to die ? * * * 



u 



Preventions of Self- Abuse by Knowledge.' 



" Knowledge is its sure preventive. What salva- 
tion remains for those yet guiltless. To forestall is 
infinitely better than to cure. Must all our noble, all 
our pure, lovely girls be defiled by this moral leprosy, 
and lost if not redeemed? Is there no preventive? 
Can they not be kept from this fell destroyer ? Must 
all fall over this moral precipice, only to rise maimed 
for life ? What a pity this offering up of human life 
on this vile altar ! We cannot spare our sons, we 
must not lose our daughters thus. They are infinite- 
ly precious. Think what a darling youth is worth ! 
Its entire future, and that of all its descendants, are 
at stake. The risk is too awful; no parents should 
sleep until they have first so hedged their darlings 
around that they cannot sin. In the name of 
agonized myriads how can this plague be stayed ? 
* * * Not by ignorance. That means has boon 
tried, only to fail, quite too long already. All who fall, 
sin for want of knowledge; nothing can be clearer. 
Say ye who have sinned, did you not err through 
ignorance? Would not one seasonable warning have 



188 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

prevented all the suffering it has caused you? Let 
universal experience decide. 

" Parental warning and counseling are its great 
forestallers and preventers. Parents are bound to 
feed, clothe, and educate their children, and guard 
them against lying, stealing, etc. ; then why not also 
against this secret sin as well — as much the worst, as 
it is the most ruinous to soul and body ? God in 
nature puts on parents the sacred duty of guarding 
their darlings against all sinful and self-ruining prac- 
tices ; and their first is to preserve them against this 
vice. * * * Oh, if my parents had only season- 
ably warned me against this vice, I should have es- 
caped all this impairment of body, and demoralization 
of mind ! How could they let me thus sin ignorantly 
and thoughtlessly?" — Extracts from Prof. 0. S* 
Fowler s Works. 

As boys and young men are often disposed to care- 
lessness in searching out for themselves that instruc- 
tion that they most need, it becomes necessary for 
those who are interested in their welfare to place the 
knowledge within the reach of all. There is general- 
ly a high regard paid to the testimony and experience 
of medical men ; therefore we desire to give you some 
of their teaching on this subject of " Masturbation." 

"Our object in preparing and publishing this article 
is to impart correct information upon a subject 
which is of greatest importance to mankind, but 
which, from false modesty and a mistaken sense of 
duty, has been quite generally ignored both by parents 



AS OTHERS SEE IT. 189 

and by the medical profession. To this prudery or 
false modesty, is due an immeasurable amount of 
suffering, and great injury to the human race. We 
have only to look about us with a practiced eye, to see 
abundant evidence of the truth of this assertion. We 
cannot enter a church or a theater or walk the streets. 
without being painfully conscious of the terrible con- 
sequences of this ruinous habit, which is largely the 
result of ignorance on the part of the victims. The 
statements which we have received both bv letter and 
in person, from many thousands of these unfor- 
tunates, prove conclusively that this habit is often 
formed in ignorance of the terrible evils which follow 
the abuse of the generative organs. * * - * 

" That such a terrible state of things should, from 
feelings of false delicacy, be permitted at this period 
of the world's history is simply monstrous ; that 
medical men should be averse to affording instructive 
and sound information upon this important subject 
is equally discreditable. Every one should know 
that in the marvelous and most perfect work of God. 
no one set of organs is more sacred, private, or worthy 
than others of the system, and that there is nothing 
improper or indelicate in the naked truth concerning 
their functions, whether in health or in disease. 

" From the period of puberty or maturity to old 
age, the generative organs exercise a more potent in- 
fluence over the health of both men and women than 
any other organs, and they are more abused. This is 
due to the fact that the youth of the land are kept in 



190 MOTHERS* COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

total ignorance concerning the ruinous effects of self- 
abuse, or masturbation. They fall easily into this 
pernicious practice, which saps the vigor, undermines 
and ruins the constitution, and, if the victim marries 
and has not by such indulgences rendered himself en- 
tirely impotent, he becomes the father of puny off- 
spring ; or, more frequently, being entirely impotent, 
it renders both his own life and that of his companion 
most wretched. * * * 

" Some boys seem to regard the practice of this 
vice, like the vile habit of smoking and chewing to- 
bacco, as a manly accomplishment. A boy may in- 
herit a predisposition to this practice, or his sexual 
feelings may be awakened at an early age and his 
bad example be imitated by many others. In this 
way, the habit is early acquired, and, when the sexual 
propensities are habitually indulged to the exclusion 
of the cultivation of higher and nobler pleasures, if 
not rendered impotent by these abuses, such a person 
may transmit the same propensity to his offspring, so 
that it becomes irresistible. 

" The indications of this vice in boys are irritability, 
impatience, and restlessness, loss of flesh, pallor, and a 
timid, downcast look. There is loss of memory and 
the intellect becomes enfeebled. They are melan- 
choly, easily discouraged, and prefer solitude. They 
do not remember what they learn, the nervous system 
shows serious impairment, and the general health fails. 
The symptoms are too significant to deceive the ex- 
perienced eye. The short, irritable replies of the boy, 



AS OTHERS SEE IT. 191 

and his general sensitiveness and nervousness are in- 
dicative of the loss of nerve-power, occasioned by this 
habit 

" This evil can only be prevented by knowing the 
habits of children and regulating them in early life. 
* * * Parents hesitate to talk to their boys, be- 
cause they fear putting impure ideas into innocent 
minds. Their hopes are strong that their sons will 
never indulge in so degrading a practice. It is a 
false modesty which restrains them from fulfilling this 
duty. If they do not attend to their children's in- 
terest, who will? The child's confidence should be 
gained through the manifestation of a tender personal 
concern. Diffidence and suspicion on the part of the 
parent destroys confidence in the child. Parents 
should divest themselves of all false modesty, and by 
their frankness establish an understanding which will 
result in mutual confidence. The physician com- 
passionately meets his patient, is pitiful, tender, and 
kind. "When parents are actuated by the same feelings, 
they can win the confidence, guard the health, and 
preserve the morals of their children. 

" We cannot too earnestly urge upon parents the 
necessity of forewarning their children against yield- 
ing to this pernicious desire. Boys ought to know 
that they may be thrown into the company of older 
lads who practice masturbation, and who may solicit 
them to acquire the same vile habits. They should 
be taught to resist these solicitations and exercise 
self-control, or they will be carried by the swift 



192 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

current of licentiousness to utter moral and physical 
ruin. 

" If the lad be instructed that this unnatural sexual 
enjoyment is a degrading pollution, a low practice, 
in which no right-minded boy will indulge, the grati- 
fication will be followed by an instinctive sense of dis- 
gust and self-condemnation. He will then realize 
that restraint is far more manly, and that self-control 
is a higher test of maturity than the degrading indul- 
gence of his passions. Nature requires her own time 
to nourish the body, complete the physical frame- 
work, and bring every member and organ to perfect 
maturity. * * * Excitement of the reproductive 
organs with the hand or other unnatural means is 
called masturbation, or self-abuse, even when no 
semen is lost. The practice inflicts injury on the 
nervous system, causing great loss of nervous power. 
The habit being once formed, the desire for such in- 
dulgence increases, until he becomes * * * a mono- 
maniac on this subject 

" Passion may aptly be termed the voice of the 
body, by which, if we listen, we are enchanted and 
led astray. Conscience is the voice of the soul, which 
remonstrates, and, if we obey it, we shall be guided 
aright. We cannot reconcile these two conflicting 
voices, and, if we indulge the passions when con- 
science forbids gratification, the remembrance of the 
wrong remains forever, and constant fear is an ever- 
lasting punishment. Man possesses few powers which 
are more highly prized than those of virility, which is 



AS OTHEKS SEE IT. 193 

the very essence of manhood. He is but the counter- 
feit of a man, who hath not the life of a man. 

" Montaigne says: ' We must see and get acquainted 
with our sins if we expect to correct them.' Virtue 
predisposes trials just as much as victory implies war- 
fare. The triumph of virtue consists in overcoming 
morbid or excessive passion. As men in all ages have 
been influenced by passions, so temptation has ever 
found its victims. It is an obligation on every one 
to overcome every evil passion or weakness to which 
he is subject, and the discharge of his personal duty 
requires moral courage/' — Extracts from the works of 
R. V. Pierce, M. D. 



SOCIAL PUKITY. 



In the previous chapters we have seen some of the 
evils arising from unrestrained sexual desire, and as 
they are so much greater than many of us have imag- 
ined, some may think the picture overdrawn or think 
it needless to dwell longer upon it. There are, how- 
ever, several great needs on this line that have not 
received the attention necessary among young men; 
therefore we entreat your careful attention to this 
subject. 

When we see how widely spread is the evil of secret 
sin among the young, and how its every tendency is 
to impure thought and action, we may wonder how 
much further into evil they would go if unrestrained. 
Surely the depth of sin is without a limit. 

When one allows himself to be governed by im- 
purity in imagination, in thought, in desire, and in 
action he soon loses his love for what is good and 
pure. Impurity has greater attraction to him than 
virtue and purity. He becomes a sensualist; a grovel- 
ing human being, seeking out that which is offensive, 
low, vulgar, debasing, degrading and vicious, until 
manhood is lost, and he becomes an object of "disgust 
as well as of pity to those who have retained their 
moral integrity to principle. 

134 



SOCIAL PURITY. 195 

If boys would choose that which is best as they 
journey along the path of life, they would find them- 
selves gradually aspiring to that which is good and 
true. Let us f ollow two boys in their different courses 
of life. They are two bright, healthy, romping lads, 
going to the same school, equally capable of receiving 
a good education and fitting themselves for a useful 
life. They have good homes, kind parents, and 
friends. Their teacher is a young man of principle, 
encouraging his pupils in right and good ways, beside 
inspiring them with strong desires for improvement 
and intellectual progress. 

James, w T ith clear mind and heart, receives this in- 
fluence, and his appreciation for the good and true in 
life is increased, and he moves forward with earnest 
effort. Each victory over his lower inclinations gives 
him greater love for all that is admirable, and thus he 
climbs upward into a purer and better life. He dis- 
dains selfishness, anger, impurity, and every mean 
and low action, and aspires to a clean life in secret 
and in public. Every impure thought is banished 
by its opposite, and every unholy action is scorned and 
supplanted by honorable ones. Thus he avoids im- 
pure language, all bad habits, has respect for parents, 
sisters, schoolmates, and friends, and accords to each 
all that is due, and as his love for the good develops 
we find him searching for truth and finding it in the 
word of God, until he realizes its fulfillment in his 
life of devotion and service to God. 

His schoolmate Harry seems to drift with the in- 



196 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

fluence for good, but fails to appreciate its true worth 
or to accept it with his mind and heart, and as the 
opposite influence bears upon him he gradually yields 
thereto until the influence for good is looked upon 
with lightness, then with aversion, and finally with 
scorn. He takes up every impulse that has the pros- 
pect of pleasure, ease, comfort, or advancement in 
worldly ways, until principle, right, and wisdom are 
rejected and his life path leads downward to all that 
is degrading. He loses respect for himself by secret 
evil doings, for his parents by disobedience, for his 
sisters by impure thoughts, and for mankind in his 
selfish purpose to make every one subserve his inter- 
ests and desires. Thus it becomes a little matter to 
take step after step in evil until the bottom is reached. 
When he has drained the cup of sensual pleasure and 
swallowed the dregs of shame, ill health, and despair, 
he looks back upon his youth and up to his friend 
James and wonders why there was such a difference 
in their life pathways. It seems to him that "fate" 
has been unkind to him and has favored the one more 
than the other. How little he comprehends the cause, 
and how far from self -blame he is as he abuses " his 
luck " and wishes life was as it should be — a "joyous 
season of existence." 

Boys, can you see why these two lives drifted so far 
apart ? Can you see where the turning-point was ? 
Have you, dear reader, made your choice for life ? or 
are you drifting upon the treacherous sea of influence 
and letting the various winds thereof beat your frail 



SOCIAL TUEITY. 197 

life-boat upon rocks, into gulfs and bays of sin and 
folly, and into the dark abyss of eternal woe i Ah, 
dear boys ! life is what you make it ; a power for 
good, or a miserable failure. You must either be a 
conquering hero, battling for right, or a slave to wrong, 
conquered by evil influence. Which is it with you i 
The right use of life makes it yield all its attractions, 
all its beauty, sweetness, pureness, richness, and 
glory; while the wrong use brings out of it all that 
could be harmful, sorrowful, debasing, degrading, and 
loathsome. Sure as the one vields 2^ood fruit, so sure 
the other yields evil fruit. Is it not sad to see so 
many made miserable for life by a failure to be wise \ 
As the thoughts of impurity, of unrighteous living 
and unholy desires, find lodgment in the heart, then 
begins the life of sensuality, that ends in the punish- 
ment of the wicked, in banishment from God. To 
think that God-given powers should be so wrongfully 
used as to deserve the censure of God in eternal pun- 
ishment is sad indeed. Man is responsible for his 
thoughts, and is able to control them by rejecting in- 
stantly evervthina' that has a tendencv to evil. We 
learn this from the Bible when it says : " But I say 
unto vou that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust 
after her hath committed adultery with her already in 
his heart." Not onlv the overt act of adulterv is 

C t 

blamable, but the desire for it within the heart. Not 
only is the taking of life murder, but the feeling of 
hatred within the heart is also. "Blessed are the pure 
in heart/* If the heart is pure, no impurity can 



198 MOTHERS COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

come forth in the life, in thought or action. There- 
fore we ought to be able to see the need of the saving 
grace of God. 

When one has yielded to impure thoughts and 
secret evil practices, it is not such a great step to 
other sexual evils, such as adultery, betrayal of the 
innocent, whoredom, etc. Would to God every boy 
could have such a respect for womanhood as never to 
stain his heart with impure thoughts concerning it. 
Think of women as mothers, sisters, wives, with love 
and holy reverence for their many lovable traits and 
qualities. It is possible ; and all of our readers should 
strive to do so. To think of her in a sensual way 
lowers both manhood and womanhood. 

Wonderful in the wisdom of God is the right rela- 
tion of the sexes — man to stand in his greater strength 
as provider, guide, and lover ; and woman by his side 
as helpmeet, giving reverence and love in sweet sub- 
mission. The thought of women as a source of sexual 
indulgence or as a means of selfish abuse is repug- 
nant to the emotion of true love. Nothing is more 
the opposite of pure love than uncontrolled sex- 
uality. If any one should think to provide himself 
with a wife in order to avoid all self-control of sex- 
uality, he misses his mark widely; for in no other 
station is there greater need of self-control in modera- 
tion and wisdom. The health, happiness, wisdom, 
and spirituality of the family demand it. Much of 
the illness of both sexes is from the abuse of the mar- 
riage relation in over-indulgence, and much of the 



SOCIAL PURITY. 199 

unnatural strength of sexuality in the young is due 
to inherited tendency created by lack of control of 
themselves in the parents. 

There is a sentiment among young men of which 
they should be heartily ashamed, as it is below the 
dignity of manhood. It is this: Girls should be 
strong for virtue that no man could overthrow them 
by his importunities, deceits, or allurements; there- 
fore it is his right to test his acquaintances on that 
line, and if he finds one weak enough to yield to 
him her virtue in the moment of temptation, he may 
take it, as she is not worthy of it, and thus rob her 
of her most precious possession, and start her on a 
road of shame. Oh, ye young men,- what are you 
better than she? Do you not also yield your virtue 

when vou take hers? Do vou not know that when 

»/ t,' 

she respects you and you suggest the evil, she must 
in a moment cast aside that respect for you or else 
she must deem the action less sinful because vou 
seem to approve it? And do you not appear to do 
so when you encourage her in it I And is it fair for 
vou to invite her and count her guilty and vou inno- 
cent? Would it not be fair for you to count her 
innocent until she invites you to yield your virtue' 
Is it right to take advantage of one's weakness to 
take her possessions ? The expression of a father has 
long been remembered. " I count the man who 
will make improper proposals to a girl far worse 
than the girl who yields her virtue, lie knows only 
his own desires, while she must bear her own weak- 



200 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

ness with the knowledge of his wishes, making her 
task doubly hard. She would probably never give 
it a moment's thought did he not propose it, there- 
fore the blame rests upon him." 

Every man or boy who escorts a girl or woman 
should consider her virtue under his protection, and 
he blamable for any impure or unvirtuous thought 
or act towards her. And should she evince any 
impropriety, he is bound to resist it just as effectu- 
ally as if he were the girl, and thus protect himself 
and her. There are many girls living lives of shame 
whose only fault was a lack of decision in standing 
against the evil proposal of those they respected 
and loved. It should be the cause of great sorrow 
to any young man to know a pure, virtuous, weak 
girl was led astray through his or some one else's 
wrong-doing. Every upright, honest boy and man 
should feel a great care for all his lady acquain- 
tances and do all possible to preserve their virtue 
and purity. All men should be held to the same 
law of right and wrong as governs women. If you 
expect virtue and purity from mothers, wives, sisters, 
and friends, so must they expect the same from you. 
If you betray a girl under the promise of marriage 
and leave her to her shame and sorrow, you are far 
worse than she and should be held responsible for 
the same and fully as guilty as she, if not many times 
worse. Oftentimes for some trifling impropriety or 
a frankness in manifesting respect or love a girl is 
considered forward, and every advantage taken to 



SOCIAL PURITY. 201 

betray her in order to " teach her a lesson," as the 
man asserts, and throw the blame upon her. Oh, 
how cruel! know you not that God will judge for 
all this? 

We know that the youthful feet of our sons may 
be led astray by the enticements of those who live 
by the destruction of manhood and virtue. There 
should be little need to warn the vouth of this 
degradation if they were rightfully taught from the 
cradle to honor and respect womanhood and virtue 
in their purity, and to loathe and abhor their abuse. 
But as there are so many who have received and 
entertained wrong impressions thereon, we Chris- 
tian mothers would kindly and firmly insist upon 
every boy and young man calmly and candidly look- 
ing this most important subject of sexual tempta- 
tion squarely in the face. Every unvirtuous woman 
or girl has been made so by the misbehavior of some 

man or bov. Had he retained his virtue and his 

t/ 

regard for her virtue, there would have been no loss 
of virtue. 

You may say, " They were equally guilty," or, 
" She led him on." It may be so in some cases, 
but facts are against the supposition that women are 
more ready to become unvirtuous than men. The 
majority of fallen women have been lured, deceived, 
or forced into lives of shame by the hard-heartedness 
of men, and are more ready to give up their sinful 
course, even when bound by almost impossibilities, 
than men are when free to do so. Young girls 



202 MOTHERS* COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

ignorant and innocent of evil have been taken to 
places of darkest sin, even to houses of shame, and 
forced by hunger and cruelty to yield their virtue 
to the libertine; while he is free to go and come as 
he pleases, she is made to believe that there is no 
escape for her — she is doomed to a life of shame, 
without home or friends, and, with no means of 
making a living. She abandons herself to all that 
is left to her, and sinks to the lowest depths of sin 
and shame, and after a few years passes into the 
dark and dreadful eternity. As woman is capable 
of rising to the heights of all that is good and lovely, 
she is capable also of falling to the lowest imagina- 
tion of sin and folly and of using her powers of 
attraction to decoy and destroy manhood. 

But, boys, stop and think! she is some mother's 
daughter, was once a father's pride, perhaps a loving 
wife or sister, and through the deceptions of base or 
weak men she is fallen. Perhaps she inherited the 
evil tendency to sexual depravity from a drunkard 
father (for authorities say that the majority of fallen 
women are daughters of drunkards) or acquired it 
early in the life of innocency, from evil associates 
or from lack of parental care. Now will any of you 
be blameless if you take advantage of her weakness 
and hasten her on in a downward course ? While 
we hope you may all have a strong regard for virtue 
of womanhood, we do hope you may do your share 
in protecting it: and though we wish you to have 
a holy hatred of all sexual impurity, may you have 



SOCIAL PURITY. 203 

compassion upon the weak and erring ones, shield- 
ing them from abuse and rescuing them from their 
evil ways. 

We are heartily sorry for all who have lost their 
virtue through the deceitfulness of sin, and have 
taken to themselves the company, the degradation, the 
shame, and the disease of the licentious. Words fail to 
describe the awfulness of the consequences of such a 
life; one is simply lost to all that is good in this 
world, and heaping upon himself for all the future all 
that is most undesirable. Let the wisdom of God 
through the words of eternal truth sink into your 
hearts and guide you into the paths of virtue and wis- 
dom. 

" Harken unto me now therefore, ye children. 
and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not thine 
heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. 
For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many 
strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the 
way to hell, going down to the chambers of death." — 
Prov. 7 : 24-27. 

" But whoso committeth adulterv with a woman 
lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his 
own soul. A wound and dishonor shall he get : and 
his reproach shall not be wiped away." — Prov. 6:32, 
33. 

" Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister ; and call 
understanding thy kinswoman: that they may keep 
thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which 
flattereth with her words." — Prov. 7 : 4, 5. 



204 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

" For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honey- 
comb, and her mouth is smoother than oil ; but her end 
is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. 
Her feet go down to death ; her steps take hold on hell. 
Lest thou shouldst ponder the path of life, her ways 
are movable, that thou canst not know them. Hear 
me now therefore, ye children, and depart not from 
the words of my mouth. Remove thy way far from 
her, and come not nigh the door of her house: lest 
thou give thine honor unto others, and thy years unto 
the cruel. * * * And thou mourn at the last, 
w T hen thy flesh and thy body are consumed." — Prov. 
5:3-11. ' 

You see, dear boys, from these scriptures how ter- 
rible are the consequences of an unvirtuous life. It 
may seem attractive, as one looks upon it as the grati- 
fication of the strongest desires ; but if its evil fruits 
are remembered, it must certainly lose much of its 
attractiveness. Most individuals do not go to the 
depths of evil all at once, but from something they 
consider innocent amusement to other things less in- 
nocent, until step by step they are landed at the bot- 
tom of corruption. If all who read these words of 
warning will abstain from impure thoughts, vulgar 
conversation, and evil companionship, they will have 
no place for sexual secret evil and will not be led to 
the destruction of virtue in others. 

One of the saddest sights in this sinful world is a 
poor forsaken unmarried woman, with a little father- 
less, forsaken child, trying to provide for herself and 



SOCIAL PURITY. 205 

the dependent little one, while surrounded by opposi- 
tion, unkindness, scorn, and ridicule, and those who 
would be glad to help her on a downward course of 
shame. Did you ever think of the awful crime of 
bringing poor little fatherless children into this cold, 
selfish world to go unprovided for ? Is not the one who 
will do so bereft of one of the highest emotions of the 
natural heart—parental love \ How much more worthy 
of love and respect is the mother who bravely stems 
the tide of worldly pride, and loves and cares for her 
offspring, filling the place of father and mother to the 
very best of her ability, than the one wdio heartlessly 
forsakes her, who should feel his love and protection 
and fill a father's place to her child ! The ways of 
the world are so unequal that often the man may re- 
tain his social position, respect, and consideration, 
while the weak woman he betrayed bears shame, 

1/ 7 

censure, and banishment. This comes from the wrong 
impression in the minds of many that we need not 
expect man to reach as high a standard of virtue as 
woman. We hope, boys, that you all may see the 
injustice of this worldly opinion, and keep yourselves 
as pure as you wish womanhood to be. 

Oftentimes young men will befriend, protect, and 
assist women in their efforts to provide for themselves, 
until they have gained their respect and perhaps love, 
and then take advantage of their dependence to pro- 
pose improper relations and transactions ; and if these 
are met with a firm refusal, they threaten to press 
them by law for what they are unable to procure : and 



206 MOTHERS COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

in order to avoid such trouble and misfortune, they 
yield to the destroyer, hoping to satisfy his demands 
and then claim freedom ; but this step once taken, the 
enemy is almost sure of the victim. Though she may 
plead for marriage to cover her shame or to provide 
for her children, he keeps himself free to abandon her 
and his parental responsibilities whenever he may 
choose. Oh, the sad hearts and lives that are caused 
by the evil of sexual impurity ! Could we Christian 
mothers see this going on without warning our sons 
of the great wrong done thereby? When men who 
have been guilty of these things have been "convicted 
of sin, of righteousness, and the judgment to come," 
they have found no rest, no peace, no comfort, until 
they renounced all their wrong-doing and made resti- 
tution as far as possible to the wronged ones, and 
asked their forgiveness for all that could not be 
righted. Sometimes they have found it necessary to 
provide for their scattered children, or to take to them 
as wives those they have so sorely abused. Oh, dear 
boys ! take heed to your steps. You may not know 
where they may lead you in after years. If you ever 
come to God for saving grace, you will find it much 
harder to retrace them by righting every wrong than 
it would have been to walk carefully in virtue during 
your youthful years. 

We are convinced that some who read this subject 
may be so hardened by sin as to laugh at the idea of 
appealing to boys to protect the rights of women and 
children: but, though you should laugh at and scorn 



SOCIAL PURITY. 207 

the instruction given and the entreaty made therein, 
we are sure God will fasten some of its teachings upon 
your hearts so that in after time, if not at present, 
they may do you unmeasured good ; for you can never 
escape the fervent effectual prayer of the righteous. 
I want to appeal to your hearts and consciences by 
the sad life story of a dear sister. She wants to give 
it to you that it may help you to see how others suffer 
for the wrong-doing of men, and, those who should 
love them too well to bring them anything but joy. 

Her mother sometimes left her while quite young 
in the care of her older brothers, who should have 
regarded the trust as sacred, and protected her virtue 
and innocency even to the risk of their lives, but in- 
stead of doing so they let their depraved hearts and 
sensual natures, lust after hei*, even to the fullest pos- 
sible extent. She was prevailed upon " not to tell 
mamma/' and thus the evil went on until she arrived 
at the years of accountability, when she received such 
a hatred to it that she never allowed it again, living 
a moral and virtuous life, even without Christian in- 
fluence or instruction at home. She would be so glad 
to reach those who are guilty of this wrong-doing with 
an exhortation to stop and consider where such a sin- 
ful course will lead and how awful would have been 
the result if she had not resisted the evil. Xot all 
would do so, and a life of deepest shame is their future 
portion. Sisters brought to moral wrecks, to shame 
and degradation, by those who in love should pro- 
tect and cherish — surely the time is here when some 



208 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

are " without natural affection " and are " unmerci- 
ful." 

Again, lier virtue and strength were tried, by one 
who should have loved her as his own body. Shortly 
before her marriage when her love and respect were 
fully gained, the loved one instead of honoring her 
virtue sought to destroy it and to " humble her " be- 
fore him. She being of a quiet and easy temperament 
and without instruction and with false ideas gathered 
from her associates, did not think strange of the sinful 
proposal but thought a refusal would end it satisfac- 
torily. It did not, however, and after weeks of plead- 
ing upon his part, and resisting on hers, she at last 
yielded to him. Her remorse, shame, and dread lest 
some one should find it out, filled her with sorrow that 
cannot be expressed, or described. And, though she 
was so protected that no one save herself and husband 
ever knew it, yet there took hold of her at that time 
such a spirit of lust that she became a tool in his hands 
to do with as he pleased — yet the awful shame and 
fear continually filled her soul with anguish and de- 
spair. When her married life began, the sexual desire 
increased, until it brought much suffering, sorrow, and 
pain of soul, body, and mind, and ended in her hus- 
band's early death and years of sinful self-abuse. But 
when she came to the loving Savior, yielded her life 
in service to him, he took it all away and gave perfect 
deliverance from all sin, sensuality, and suffering. He 
gave a pure heart and now helps her by his grace and 
mighty love to live a holy and godly life in his sight. 



SOCIAL PURITY. 209 

So, boys, please take warning and do not biing the 
one yon intend to many into such deep sorrow or 
some innocent girl to a life of sliame by wicked pro- 
posals and entreaties. Beware of tlie judgments of 
God, who sees all unrighteous devices and will reward 
each one according to his work. If you truly love 
some one, then prize her virtue as a precious boon 
instead of desiring to destroy it, and love your own 
manhood and virtue enough not to seek those who 
have already fallen and thus help to push them fur- 
ther into evil, instead of helping them to live lives of 
virtue and honor. 

AVe may hide many of our sins and wrong-doings 
from the people in the world now, but in the judg- 
ment day when we shall all be judged we cannot help 
ourselves or hide them from any one. With what 
shame and remorse must we stand before all and have 
the secrets of our lives brought to light; and worse 
than all hear that awful sentence : " Depart from me, 
ye cursed, into everlasting punishment. " Surely 
there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth at their 
awful doom. 

" Prepare to meet thv God " bv forsaking and re- 
penting of sin, believing in Jesus as your Savior from 
sin, and obeying his instruction. 



COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE, 



Most young people are interested in this subject 
and are forming various opinions regarding it, accord- 
ing to their aspirations, surroundings, and observation. 
We are glad marriage is looked upon with favor by 
the majority of people, as it was ordained of God for 
wise and good purposes. If rightly understood, and 
entered upon wisely, it cannot fail to be a blessing to 
all for whom it is designed by God. That there are 
many failures in marriage cannot be denied, when we 
look around us and see the mismated, the separations, 
divorces, and unhappy families. While some con- 
clude from this that it is not good to marry, and that 
single life is preferable to married life, and so on, we 
want to tell you that all this comes from a failure to 
do all things " for the glory of God." 

God has his purposes and plans for each one of us. 
They are for our good, in wisdom and righteousness; 
but if we fail to walk in wisdom and in the way of 
righteousness, we get ourselves into trouble. For in- 
stance, a young man may see a nice young lady whom 
he admires for several reasons; therefore, he concludes 
it will be very nice to marry her, and he begins to 
show her every attention possible in order to win her 

210 



COURTSHIP AXD MAKKIAGE. 211 

love and consent to marriage. She may be far differ- 
ent in character from what he imagined, and he may 
be able to see some serious faults, or may be disap- 
pointed in her way of looking at marriage; but he 
shuts his eyes to everything and decides to " marry 
her at all cost, and not expect to find an angel. " In 
all this he has not once considered God's pleasure in 
the matter or whether it will lead him nearer to God 
and the right. In fact, he has done it all by him- 
self. If in after years he regrets his marriage; he 
wonders how it came he made such a great mistake 
in marrying; for in other things he has done fairly 
well and his judgment has been quite sound. 

Will you look back, dear friends, and see how much 
judgment you used in the consideration of the mat- 
ter ? Did you look at it from every standpoint I Did 
you think that the choice you should make would 
affect your whole future — for time and eternitv \ 
Did you suppose it was a step that you could ever re- 
trace ? Did vou consider that the woman who is 
petted, admired, waited on, and deferred to will be 
quite different in action from the wife who must bear 
a heavy share of marriage duty and obligations while 
you are providing the necessaries of life I Did you 
think that the little disagreements would become less 
as you were constantly together \ Or did you imagine 
as many do that if love exists it will cover up all the 
blemishes and remove every disagreeable feature ! 
Love is a great power, and will do much to make life 
bright and happy ; but there are other things to con- 



212 MOTHERS' COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

sider. Unless two characters blend together for har- 
mony and peace, in desire, aspiration, and mutual 
forbearance, there is little hope of a happy life, un- 
less salvation brings both up to a. Bible standard of 
living; although grace from God may do much to 
bring order out of chaos when even one yields to its 
controlling power. Still our hearts long for that 
companionship wherein each enjoys the same things, 
and they appreciate and honor each other's gifts or 
attainments. 

As life brings many changes to us all, those who 
marry should remember they do so with the prospect 
of various changes in the one loved; but the greater 
harmony and agreement between two when united in 
marriage the less probable are the changes that would 
annoy or destroy it. 

Then when one is considering marriage he should 
remember to seek for wisdom from above. In order 
to do so he must be saved of God, to be where God 
will hear and answer his prayers for wisdom and the 
leading of his Spirit. This may seem quite strange 
to those who believe in the modern wordly way of 
courtship and marriage, but to those who read and 
study their Bible it will commend itself as scriptural. 

Let us follow a worldly young man through this 
enjoyable reason. He is one who is comfortably cir- 
cumstanced in life, having a good beginning in finan- 
cial w T ays, a good education, and moral principle. To 
him, marriage is a very desirable state, and his imag- 
ination is busy painting in glowing colors his future 



COUKTSHIP AXD MARRIAGE. 213 

in companionship with one who shall be all that is 
good and lovely. He looks around him upon his lady 
friends, but sees no one half good enough to fill the 
sacred place in his affections ; but he thinks it will be 
good to associate more freely with them, in order to 
" have a good time " or " to learn the art of courting." 
His first movements are rather awkward and embar- 
rassing to himself and friend, but he soon gets over 
that and has many a good time in flirting or in study- 
ing the different types of girls. He learns many 
things concerning the fair sex, and what he learns 
makes him skeptical about some of his old imagina- 
tions. His life is all gaiety and his associates of the 
same nature, and so he turns from one to another in 
the vain hope of at least finding the right one. 

At last he thinks he surely is not mistaken ; here 
is one who comes nearer his ideal than any of the 
others and, though she is a stranger visiting in town, 
he is sure he " knows bv this time who is who," and 
so he presses forward manfully, paying her every at- 
tention and consideration, and soon finds himself 
happy only in her company, which he considers a sure 
sign of love, and so becomes very desirous of observ- 
ing the same in her, which makes him more and more 
earnest in his wooing. At last he can bear the sus- 
pense no longer, and he with great care and in much 
uncertainty asks the most important question. She 
refuses his proposal with dignity and coldness, observ- 
ing that " it is strange that a woman cannot receive 
the society attentions of acquaintances without them 



214 MOTHERS* COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

always thinking of miserable marriage." He is more 
disappointed and hurt than he had any thought of be- 
ing, and so he mourns his fate of " unrequited love/' 
and the casting down of his air-castles. After a time 
of observing her ways at a distance and with no pros- 
pect of drawing nearer to her he finds she has a num- 
ber of very serious faults, that would have made their 
life miserable had they tried to live together. 

He again takes courage and ventures to pay atten- 
tion to " a modest little thing/' who generally stands 
in the back-ground. He is surprised to find out how 
much she knows and how considerate and good she is 
in her womanly and quiet ways. He begins to think 
he has " found the one cut out for him," and becomes 
very earnest and devoted. She gives him many a 
quiet hint and receives some of his advances with firm 
resistance. But the more she does this the stronger 
becomes his decision " to win her or die trying." He 
is sure he has never seen one who came so near his 
ideal in every respect, and is assured a life of perfect 
happiness is before them. So wrapped up in his 
dream and desires is he, that he hardly considers the 
possibility of refusal, as he knows the world would 
say she had done well to marry one so well fixed in 
life. Again his aspirations are doomed to disap- 
pointment, as her friend Charley appears upon the 
scene and manifests his right to protect her from fur- 
ther unwelcome attentions. The disappointed one 
blames his luck, the fair ones, his own stupidity, and 
everything in general. Courtship becomes a serious 



COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE. 215 

t 

matter, <md he assumes himself : " I'll be more care- 
ful hereafter ; no one shall fool me again." 

It is astonishing how soon the wounded heart heals 
and he again takes his place in society to shine and 
outshine. He becomes the gayest of the gay, and de- 
cides to take things more easy. He flirts with all, 
making each one think for a very short time that she 
is the favored one ; but just as this is decided in her 
heart and mind he is off to some other attraction. At 
last he meets his match in a city coquette, and is urged 
on and on by friends who " want to see her con- 
quered," and so he gains the ground and the avowed 
affection of an unreliable woman. He thinks him- 
self happy in his victory until preparations begin for 
married life, when he finds out to his consternation 
that she has " no love for home life," but chooses to 
wander from place to place in lodgings ; as she " does 
not choose to lose her liberty of action." A stormy 
time ensues as he recalls her recent expressions of 
home appreciation, and is met with the retort that 
u such things were for effect, like his love for music." 
It ends without a wedding, and both seek other fields 
of conquest. 

Stranger among strangers — no wonder he con- 
cludes that " marriage is a lottery," and one must 
take his lot; and he wonders if fate will be kind to 
him in placing in his way some one especially adapted 
to his future plans or one exactly the reverse. He 
sometimes thinks he could bear to make some ebang 
to please the one who should please him, but the 



216 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

future looks somewhat dark. He devotes himself 
more earnestly to business, and waits for something 
to turn up to change the course of events. After a 
time through several changes he is thrown into the 
society of a talented business woman, who seems per- 
fectly indifferent toward men, only as they can help 
forward her plans. He wonders if she has a heart ; if 
she was ever courted; if she could really be ap- 
proached as other women, etc., until he finds himself 
quite interested in her. In various ways he makes 
himself useful to her in business matters, and finally 
rejoices to see that she relies upon his judgment, and 
accepts his suggestions. Her reserve and devotion to 
business move him to fathom her character, as best 
he may from the business calls he makes upon her. 
He finds she is a woman with many womanly ways, 
and he resolves to woo her to marriage. It requires 
much effort to break through the reserve and approach 
her as a lover, but at length he has the pleasure of so 
doing. He must change many of his plans, his de- 
sires, and his imaginations, to enthrone her in his 
heart as queen and lady love ; but he does so manfully, 
assuring himself that she will make up in some ways 
what she lacks in others. The marriage over, the ad- 
justment of each to the usual sphere of labor begins. 
She finds it very tiresome to devote her time and 
energy to household matters, and after a time refuses 
to do so and wants to occupy her business station and 
leave home affairs to the care of others, hired for the 
purpose. The changes are many and very annoy- 



COURTSHIP AXD MAEKLAGE. 217. 

ing, and at last lie finds out that he made a mistake 
in taking one from her chosen sphere to serve in 
another. He sees when too late that it was not wis- 
dom that caused him to seek her as a wife, but 
curiosity to uncover the mysterious. She has no love 
for wifely duties and the obligations of married life, 
and is only in accord with her husband in business 
matters. Thus the sweetness and dignity of mar- 
riage is lost in an unwise effort for worldly gain. 

Thus are the majority of worldly men seeking for 
that which they fail to obtain. How strange it 
seems that such a very important subject as marriage 
should receive so little real wisdom of attention ! 
While it is to many something desirable and impor- 
tant, it is so often considered in such an imaginative. 
illogical wav that it fails to receive the calm consider- 
ation necessary to secure its enjoyments and bless- 
ings. As we have pictured to you the natural course 
of courtship among the worldly, we will try to give 
you the one that recommends itself to the humble fol- 
lowers of the Lord, who seek to do God's will in all 
things. 

Here is a young Christian man who has given his 
life for the service of God in any way he shall choose 
to lead him by his Holy Spirit, because he realizes 
constantly that we are not our own, for we are bought 
with a price, even the precious blood of Jesus. He 
has committed all his interests into the hands of a 
faithful Friend, who cares for them in infinite wis- 
dom, and love to him. He has learned many precious 



218 MOTHERS COUNSEL TO THEIB SONS. 

lessons of godly wisdom and has found it very profit- 
able to cast all his care upon him who careth for us. 
His body is kept under by the grace of God and is 
brought into submission to the divine will. 

As he reaches mature years and realizes that the 
majority of those of his age are considering getting 
married, his thoughts sometimes turn in that direc- 
tion, and so he " takes it to the Lord in prayer " and 
gains the precious promise, " I will guide thee with 
mine eye." Knowing that God has a place for each 
of his children to fill in the body of Christ, the 
church of God, the young brother is very anxious to 
fill it acceptably and to do nothing to thwart God's 
designs. He is fully aware that God is able and will- 
ing to make known his will at the proper time ; so 
he " waits patiently upon the Lord," and in due time 
finds his place in the body and is given wisdom to see 
that he needs a helpmeet, but still "trusts it away with 
Jesus," knowing he need not " seek a wife;" for " a 
prudent wife is from the Lord." He does not have 
his plans all arranged for the future and then seek to 
find some one willing to help him fill them 
to his satisfaction ; but, knowing that " the 
Lord knoweth what is in the heart of man," 
he knows that God can choose, far better than he, the 
one suited to him and his place in life. So he walks 
humbly in the footsteps of Jesus day by day, in going 
about his "Father's business," unconcerned about the 
future. As he is thus occupied he makes the ac- 
quaintance of many dear, good Christian girls whom 



COURTSHIP AND MAR&IAGE. 219 

he knows would make some one happy in life, were 
God so to lead. 

He resolutely awaits God's pleasure, and after a 
time is thrown by his labors into closer companion- 
ship with one whom he finds in every way congenial 
to himself and his field of labor. His eyes are opened 
to see in wisdom the hand of God, and in special 
prayer the answer to his inquiry is, "Fear not to take 
unto thee thy wife." He praises God for the good 
gift, and after a short period of simple Christian ac- 
quaintance he realizes a warmth of natural affection 
towards her and so asks her to inquire of the Lord 
concerning marriage, which she promises to do in the 
fear of God. After a time of heart-searching and 
deepening of consecration to the will of God she hears 
in sweetest whispers of love, "My child, 'behold thy 
husband.' " She realizes the sacredness of such a 
union for the glory of God, and asks him to make it 
doubly clear to her by giving her a true wifely affec- 
tion for him. This is granted very quickly, and at 
their next meeting both realize the uniting of their 
hearts by sanctified natural affection and a high de- 
gree of companionship. Their time is not consumed 
in worldly ways of courtship, but each interview is 
seasoned with prayer and thanksgiving. A quiet 
wedding soon follows, and two lives are launched 
upon the sea of sacred marriage union, blessed and 
ordered by the great God of heaven. Do you look 
for some great failure? No; for a victory that sur- 
passes every earthly expectation. Not that life shall 



220 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

be spent in mutual admiration of each other, but that 
it shall encourage to greater effort in the service of 
God, a closer walk with him, and greater strength of 
action for the good of perishing souls. However, 
there is just as much need of wisdom in all the years 
following, to keep in love, in sacred union of hearts 
and companionship as there was to first attain it. It 
needs its careful and prayerful consideration, its ex- 
pression of love in kind and attentive demeanor one 
toward another, and the overflow of love in tender 
caresses. True love is devoid of selfishness, of the 
spirit of censure, of love of control, and of strife. 

Is there anything more beautiful than the marriage 
unity when arranged and ordered by the almighty 
hand of God? The husband loving his wife as his 
own body, cares for her in tender solicitude, helping 
to bear her burdens and cares, and manifests his 
supremacy only in loving suggestions for good, as 
Christ does to his bride — the church. The wife 
reverencing her husband in tender love yields lovingly 
to his suggestions, emanating not from selfish purposes, 
but from God-love implanted within the heart. 

It is true, however, that not all who claim to be 
Christians live happy married lives; but not all have 
"married in the Lord;" neither have they used wisdom 
and grace in their conduct toward one another. The 
Devil, who "goeth about as a roaring lion seeking 
whom he may devour/' is just as ready to attack the 
husband or wife with his ferocious power in every 
way conceivable as any one else, and he knows that 



COUETSHIP AND MARRIAGE. 221 

in so doing he destroys much, good through parental 
influence. ]STo one should be careless of his cunning 
approaches or unaware of his bold and fearless attacks. 
Many a home's happiness has been destroyed by a 
few sly insinuations that were first received with con- 
tempt, then allowed consideration, then permitted to 
awaken doubts, then false impressions and imagina- 
tions, until they had destroyed confidence, respect, 
love, and unity; and then they were allowed to wage 
war, anger, strife, division, and final separation and 
divorce. 

Let each one who expects to marry or has married, 
remember that what is worthy of effort to obtain re- 
quires just as much effort to retain, and what is 
worthy of appreciation as looked forward to, is worthy 
of just as much approval after it is obtained. Many 
men who looked forward to marriage as the height of 
worldly happiness and whose married days have been 
unusually bright, often speak of it in a disappointed, 
dissatisfied way because it was not as ecstatic in love's 
impulses as in the days preceding marriage; and thus 
they wound the tender hearts that have done all they 
knew to brighten life and to keep the heart-love glow- 
ing and pure. Do they remember the hours of separa- 
tion — how long and wearisome they were, and how 
blissful the meetings, and the almost impossible good- 
bys? Did you not imagine a life devoid of separa- 
tion would be happier? but now that there are no 
separations you look back upon the joyful meetings, 
and wish life could bo a continual bliss as pure as 



222 MOTHERS 7 COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

those precious greetings and meetings. Then try it 
once, clear husband, and see if it is not better to have 
bread and butter the year round than dry bread all 
the year with a few opportunities of having bread 
and butter as an appeasement of longing desire. 
Make the best of life, have a hearty appreciation for 
all that is good, and do not long to feast continually 
upon dainties, which would destroy good, wholesome 
appetite. By this we would not discourage the mani- 
festation of pure affection which is natural, but we 
would warn each one against the unwholesome belief 
that an ecstacy of love or joy is essential to true happi- 
ness. True love runs deep; it seeks to shield from 
care, troubles, and annoyance and finds pleasure in 
humble service for the loved one. It appreciates each 
act of self-denial, exertion, and thoughtfulness as ex- 
pressions of a never-diminishing affection. 

How many weary wives and mothers make every 
day some heroic effort to please the husband as he re- 
turns weary from a day of toil, His favorite pie or 
cake is upon the table, although it required a great 
effort to still the cry of the little one and find time 
in the multitude of pressing cares for its manufacture. 
Perhaps he enters weary and pressed down with 
apprehension of some dire trouble that threatens 
the family welfare. He notices not her thought- 
fulness or love, but speaks impatiently to the 
mischievous toddler, and eats what is before him 
in moody silence. She awaits his pleasure, cares 
for the little ones, and gets them off to bed with the 



COUETSHIP AUD ilAREIAGE. 

promise of a nice Bible story, makes tlie room bright 
and attractive (as well as herself), and then seeks to 
woo him unto confidence in such a loving way that 
half his burden seems to have rolled into oblivion, and 
he really wonders where his big burden is gone as he 
confides it to her listening and appreciative ear, and is 
comforted by some strong assurance of helpfulness 
and trust. 

Perhaps as she toils over the week's wash or is 
flushed and heated with her baking, the husband con- 
trasts her appearance with what it was as he called 
upon her on some occasion a few years before, and a 
shade of disappointment rests upon his face and an 
accent of impatience mars his voice as he makes some 
slight request. But notice the happy and pleased ex- 
pression that shines from her love-lit eyes as she 
quickly accords the favor and gives some little ex- 
pression of love. The cloud vanishes from his brow 
and he makes an effort to banish with disdain the very 
thought that would lower her in his heart's apprecia- 
tion. He had forgotten for a moment that no one 
when engaged in arduous labor is outwardly as attrac- 
tive as when dressed for company. He remembers his 
own untidy appearance at various times and her play- 
ful nickname of " mv chore bov." He is ashamed, 
and assures himself that " the like shall never happen 
again;" and so makes extra effort to atone for his 
dislovaltv to his chosen one — ves, "the one of a thou- 
sand " for him. If dissatisfaction could always be 
thus " nipped in the bud/' many an unhappy life 



224: MOTHERS 7 COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

would be spared its sorrow. "We may also see the 
need of carefulness in all the affairs of life, that we 
may not be the innocent cause of our own troubles. 
Many a husband and wife forget to use the careful- 
ness in personal appearance, in conversation, and in 
action necessary to retain the respect of a dear one; 
but injure its sensitiveness by unnecessary careless- 
ness. 

There are few who do not have some peculiarities 
that may be very annoying to others, and in married 
life these should be carefully avoided as far as known. 
On the other hand each one should be careful to pre- 
vent some little thing becoming a mountain, by con- 
stant dwelling upon, grieving over, and occasional 
mention. Where there is loving confidence and an 
earnest desire to please each other, there may be a 
proper time to speak of the little things that annoy, 
while often it is good to get such a victory over them 
in our own hearts, that they cease to appear as blem- 
ishes in the loved ones. There is, however, a right 
and wrong concerning everything of life, and each 
one should strive to attain to the right; and conscience 
scruples should be respected, and not dwelt upon to 
the harm of the possessor or to the injury of home 
happiness. 

The endeavor of every married couple should be to 
elevate their married life above the sensual or sexual 
unto the higher plane of love, right, and spiritual 
union. It would be well if each one who desires mar- 
ried life could see the true beauty of being " married 



COURTSHIP AXD MARRIAGE. 225 

in the Lord/' and would seek salvation at Jesus' feet 
and yield his life to the Lord's service, and thus be 
prepared to look unto him for direction in so im- 
portant a matter. It is sad indeed to see one com- 
panion serving the Lord in faithfulness and the other 
in every possible way opposing every spiritual ad- 
vance, or being so unconcerned about his own welfare 
as to grieve the other's heart and hinder the salvation 
work among the dear children. To avoid this it is 
best to serve God in the days of thy youth, and let 
God order the future. 

There is a life of pure devotion to God where mar- 
riage seems to mar the sacredness of fellowship, the 
closeness of communion; and those who are thus called 
are happiest in their calling. A holy life of virginity 
for man or woman is above the reproach of the world, 
although it may not understand the motives or appre- 
ciate the sacrifice of the earthly for the spiritual. It 
does not come because thev choose to shirk some of the 
responsibilities of life, but that they may attend unto 
spiritual things without distraction, and glorify G#d. 
We read of this in the Bible, and urge upon all young 
Christians so to walk before God that he can make 
clear his will to them in the matter of marriage: for 
one can only serve God faithfully who is guided by 
him in all things. Surely no one should take such an 
important step without knowing God's will concerning 
it. 

The natural object of marriage is offspring; yet 
many fail to consider it while thinking of and aspir- 



226 MOTHERS* COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

ing to its high estate, while some with true love of 
paternity dwell in rapture upon the blissful emotions 
awakened in the heart by its possibilities. None 
should enter the marriage relation who would not take 
upon themselves the obligation of a parent. It may 
be very sentimental and attractive to look upon it as 
" the union of two hearts that beat as one," and 
" to live for each other all the davs of life:" but the 
natural heart asserts itself within a few years, and an 
intense longing arises to look upon their own faces 
and features mirrored together into the sweetest and 
loveliest little one. The more natural, and highly en- 
dowed with the finest sentiments of love and the pur- 
est appreciation of sexuality two persons may be who 
unite in marriage, the greater will be their enjoyment 
in the offspring that blesses their union, and the 
higher will be the natural standard thereof. A child 
created through sentiments of love and appreciation 
of sexual obligations will of necessity be attuned to 
higher life than one born upon the low plane of lust 
and necessity, without parental desire and love of 
offspring Ah, how many are thus moored to low and 
degrading life from their earliest existence! The 
many ways invented by cunning minds to outwit 
nature and save unprincipled men and women from 
the trials and cares of parents are filling our land with 
very much that is an offense to the best instinct of 
natural man, and is meeting the severest censure and 
disapproval from the great Creator. The purest, 
highest noblest, and most devoted parents give to the 



COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE. 227 

world the strongest type of manhood and womanhood 
in their children, but those who devote themselves to 
fashion, society, and pleasure never give sons of 
genius, or daughters of moral purity and strength of 
character. 

Sad are many hearts, who are deprived of the plea- 
sure of leading by the hand the little wavering ones, 
or of looking into intelligent faces and eyes, running- 
over with questions, and answering them in serious 
earnestness, to see the glad and happy surprise mold 
itself into another question. All this sadness is 
caused many times by the evils of youthful days, or 
the overindulgence of marriage privileges, through 
ignorance or from a lack of self-control. That which 
is of value to us needs proper care to preserve its 
worth. 

JSTow, boys, as we have given some needed instruc- 
tion on this subject we hope you may receive it, and 
obtain a precious benefit in your lives. Pure thoughts 
and right living will keep you from many troubles 
that beset marriage. True manhood will seek for 
what is good and pure, and if wisdom is used in every 
circumstance in life, instead of desire or concern for 
what appears pleasurable, then the result will be much 
more appreciated as time passes. Sometimes individ- 
uals imagine when they marry in love and wisdom, 
that they should not see any faults in each other: and 
if they should, they begin to feel hurt and sometimes 
try to show it to the offender; and if it is not removed, 
they dwell so much upon it that it becomes a source 



228 mothers' counsel to theib sons. 

of variance and makes them much, trouble. Two per- 
sons may be lovingly united in marriage who may 
have some faults and differences; but these should 
make no change in love or harmony. Children may 
be very faulty, and do many things to grieve the lov- 
ing hearts of parents; yet their love remains un- 
changed, and sometimes the most faulty one will re- 
ceive apparently a greater portion that enables the 
parents to bear the trials more patiently. It often 
transpires that the abundance of affection is the power 
used to effect a change in the dear one. A very 
wicked man was converted much to the astonishment 
of the religious people who were used of God for 
his good. His testimony was that he had entirely 
discouraged every one, in regard to his conversion, ex- 
cept his dear old mother, who continued to pray for 
him through all discouragement and opposition, be- 
cause she so truly and deeply loved him. 

Now* if love can prevail over faults in other loved 
ones, it can for companions, who are taken for better 
or for worse ; and it is a trick of the enemy of all good 
to enlarge upon the faults and try to affect that love 
that does exist in spite of the faults. 

Once a sister said to another sister, " Have you ever 
thought how verv sinful your husband's faults are? " 
The question was startling. Had she become so used 
to them that she had overlooked their sinfulness? It 
must be so, since others noticed them more than she 
did. Surely she must be awakened. So she dwelt 
upon them for several years, let the very worst aspect 



COUETSHIP AND MARRIAGE. 229 

from them ever be present in her heart, until she 
began to feel herself wronged by the errors above all 
else. Then there was manifest in her in many ways 
the extreme opposite of her husband's faults, which 
only increased their strength and made wider the 
division between them. This after a time weakened 
their affections, and the hearts that once overflowed 
with tenderness and truest love were becoming so cold 
and indifferent that they were both grieving over the 
sad state of their lives. But there came an awakening 
for her. In a wonderful manner God permitted the 
enemy to allure her affection into improper channels, 
until with an awful horror she found herself upon 
the very edge of a terrible precipice of error that has 
engulfed multitudes — even the loathsome free love 
(which means love whom you will). 

^Nothing could have been more repulsive to her 
sentiments of right, and when she beheld her fallen 
condition her soul cried out in agony, " Oh, my God, 
not that, not that!" But it was even so. She had so 
dwelt upon the failings of others that she had been per- 
mitted to partake slightly of an evil that -far exceeded 
her husband's. She was humbled into the very dust 
in self-abasement, and nothing but the almighty love 
of God drew her away from the awful horror that 
stood before her, and encouraged her to entreat his 
mercy and forgiveness to reinstate her into his favor 
and grace. She learned many precious lessons and 
applied them to her life, that brought again the 
natural affection to both her own and her husband's 



230 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

lieart and helped lier to walk more humbly and in 
greater wisdom than ever before. Often since the sad 
experience her lieart lias been so weighed down by the 
serious trial that it seemed there was no strength 
for future progress; but the loving Lord whispered 
in accents sweet, " I permitted it for the good of 
souls." How can we warn others on this line but by 
giving the sad experience and bringing out the lessons 
that no doubt manv need? 

After a marriage where love and wisdom have 
ruled, it is just as necessary that they continue to 
govern, and allow no other power to usurp authority* 
" All is well that ends well " may be wisely applied 
to marriage. Often married life is begun under very 
uncertain circumstances, and seemingly with all things 
arrayed against it, and yet it may finally 
prevail and far surpass those begun more 
favorably. Then let those who are living un- 
happily take courage and trust for a better time, 
while every possible effort of wisdom is used to gain 
the desired object. Husbands and wives are com- 
manded by God to love one another; so if it is com- 
manded it is possible through grace to do so, and every 
unloving heart should seek that Bible standard until 
it is obtained. It is a disgrace to be "without natural 
affection," for it shows a hard-heartedness that needs 
to be repented of before God. And I hope many will 
avail themselves of the privilege and find out how 
much God can do for them. 

Though all may seem dark before us, the clouds 



COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE. 231 

may be driven back by one move of God, and the 
brightness of heaven rejoice our hearts. Ye that love 
the Lord, remember that "all things work together 
for your good." 

That which seems the heaviest to you now may be 
the means of greatest good in many ways. 

Then pray and trust, and trust and pray, 
Until they both shall win the day. 



AMUSEMENTS, 



It seems to be natural for individuals to seek plea- 
sure in different kinds of amusements. Life's duties 
and obligations do not possess enough, interest to them 
to afford all they desire of pleasure; therefore we see 
them hastening from one form of amusement to 
another — never satisfied with the enjoyment afforded, 
but anticipating it in the next. 

Let me whisper a word to you boys that will make 
you wiser than many grown people: True pleasure is 
found in the path of duty. You need not seek for 
her, for often the more she is sought the more she 
eludes the grasp of the would-be possessors, or else de- 
ceives them with a mere pretense of happiness. 
Whatever our hands find to do we should do with our 
might, and find real pleasure in the doing. If one 
hurries through with duty in order to engage in some- 
thing more pleasant, the duty fails to yield its attrac- 
tions, as they are not observed. For instance, boys 
who are going to school may study their lessons so 
indifferently as to find no real pleasure therein, be- 
cause they anticipate a fine time after school hours in 
reading some attractive story or novel with its unreal 



and exciting adventures. 



232 



AMUSEMENTS. 233 

There is real pleasure in earnest and persistent 
study. The mind grasps one truth after another that 
quickens the brain into greater activity and strength 
and gives desire for further instruction, which is a 
real enjoyment deeper than that which is found in 
careless amusement. The first is likened to a good 
meal of victuals that is quickly and easily digested, 
giving strength and health to the body and hope and 
joy to the mind and heart; while the last is like a diet 
of sweetmeats, nuts, and dainties that give pleasure to 
the taste but produce derangement of the digestive 
organs, and the result thereof — pain, anxiety, discour- 
agement, and sorrow. 

Xo one should expect to continue one occupation 
continuously day after day without becoming weary, 
for the mind and body need rest and change. These 
may be found in various ways without indulging in 
anything simply to find pleasure. There is more en- 
joyment in kind deeds — thoughtful and loving re- 
membrances — than in the pursuit of happiness. 

It is natural for children to enjoy play, and a 
certain amount is healthful and good; but let their 
whole time be given thereto, it loses its charm. Over- 
indulgence in it produces a nausea similar to over- 
eating. 

As children advance in vears thev should have some 
occupation to employ the most of their time, as idle- 
ness is a source of great evil. They should be 
encouraged to learn to do their work in the best 
manner, and to find out all they can concerning it 



234 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

and thus become interested therein. They may be 
shown the worth of their labors to their parents or 
friends, and learn how one service deserves another. 
Sometimes it is well to reward faithful service in 
money value, thus teaching them to do business prop- 
erly. Many a boy has become careless and shiftless 
from lack of care, and wisdom in giving proper 
inducements to labor. It is natural to all to desire to 
see some favorable results from their labors, and this 
is reasonable and right; for no one should wish to 
spend time and energy on something that amounts to 
nothing. Many of the duties of life, while they seem 
valueless in some ways, are full of comfort and happi- 
ness to others; therefore they are a necessity and some 
one needs to do them. Then why not you and I? 
And why may we not enjoy them in view of what 
they hold? 

It seems often that boys and young men forget that 
they have advanced beyond their "play-days," and 
want to spend most of their time in gaiety. Boys 
"chew for pleasure," smoke "for fun," read novels 
"to have a good time," drink because "it makes them 
feel good," congregate together for mischief because 
"boys will be boys," keep company with the girls "to 
be somebody," play cards " 'cause others do," and 
"like it," gamble a little "to be up to date," go to 
circus and theater for "they're all the go," "take in 
the races to see the stock," enter secret evils for "men 
are men and do as they please," go to the dance "to 
act the fop," etc. Now, boys, just see if you can do 



AMUSEMENTS. 235 

any of these things "to the glory of God," as the 
Bible tells us to do all we do. If you cannot, then 
rule them out of your lives. 

So many things are taken up for amusement that 
work such great harm to the young, that we wish to 
speak of a few. 

To many there seems no evil in a game of cards for 
pastime, yet those who learn to play are generally 
found playing instead of enjoying such diversions as 
improve the mind and heart. As there is great 
fascination and excitement about it, one is liable to 
neglect known duty for its enjoyment. After a time 
there is more interest manifest if there is a small 
wager at stake, such as cigars and ice-cream. It is 
not long until the stake is money — and the next step 
is frequenting gambling dens and using every strategy 
to win the games. 

There is no evil that binds more firmly than gam- 
bling, for one who gambles will risk the last penny 
and beg for more from friends, in the hope that "luck 
will change" and he may become as rich as he desires 
to be, and then he will stop forever. Should he gain 
his desires, he immediately stakes all for greater gain, 
and thus is absorbed year after year by the gamling 
passion. 

The testimony of reformed gamblers is that the 
evil is a severe bondage, from which few escape with- 
out the help of God through the religion of Jesus. 
They agree in asserting that it is a debasing, dishonor- 
able, and wicked life; that the gambler loses the better 



236 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

part of his nature, his respect and love for others, 
which is a great factor for good in all who possess it. 
Gambling is one of the great evils that go hand in 
hand with intemperance and lust. It has been the 
cause of innumerable quarrels and vicious strifes that 
have finally resulted in the death of one and the im- 
prisonment of the other contestant. 

The one who never plays a game of cards will never 
be a gambler, while the one who learns to play for 
pastime is on the road toward one; although he may 
see the danger ahead and give up the pleasure before 
too late and save himself from such a sad fate. It is 
not wise to learn that which inclines to evil. Those 
who follow gambling to enliven their fleeting days 
will never accomplish much for themselves or others. 
Life is too short, its responsibilities too great, personal 
influence too extensive and certain to spend even a 
portion thereof in anything not strictly for the glory 
of Grod. 

Another amusement indulged in by many young 
people is novel-reading. It is a very fascinating and 
injurious habit, as those who indulge in it lose interest 
in the common-place realities of life, and live in an 
imaginary world that makes them dissatisfied with the 
real. Often they endeavor to order their lives in 
such a way as they think will bring them into thrilling 
and romantic positions. Many boys love the tales of 
adventure and narrow escapes of hunters, adventurers, 
explorers, gold-seekers, etc., and so leave pleasant 
homes, good business prospects, and the advantages of 



AMUSEMENTS. 237 

civilization, and go forth to a wild, careless life that 
throws them among evil companions and into dangers 
and troubles that destroy health and future happiness. 
!Not many can stand the wrong influence and return 
home bettered by their choice of life. 

Another evil result of novel-reading is an almost 
irresistible desire to gratify the appetite for unwhole- 
some literature at the expense of every duty and 
obligation of life. Days and nights are spent in fol- 
lowing some imaginary hero or heroine through 
wonderful scenes and impossibilities to a bright and 
glowing fanciful conclusion, while all around us are 
the needy and suffering, the neglected and abused, 
who might be relieved, made comfortable and 
happy, by the time and energy wasted in the 
pursuit of happiness that lasts but for the fleeting 
present. 

"Good deeds never die," their influence moves on 
through time, and only eternity can tell the grand 
results. Then let your pleasure be found in deeds 
of love and mercy, doing all as unto God. 

Xovel-reading is very injurious to the mind, as it 
produces an indifference to mental application, and 
the individual becomes intellectually lazv. Books of 
useful information lose their attractiveness, and fin- 
ally are discarded for the attractive novel. The 
individual may attribute the disinclination for more 
substantial reading to weariness of mind and body 
from labor or from physical derangement; but 
the truth is the more novels are read the less are other 



238 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

books enjoyed, because the mind is indifferent to 
greater application. 

Sometimes people advise the reading of light litera- 
ture as a rest for the mind from the weariness of 
mental labor. One might just as well advise light 
manual labor as a rest for an overworked body. Why 
not take rest that is rest, instead of that which is 
mixed with its opposite? 

Those who are good novel-readers and enter into 
the sentiment of what they read are wonderfully in- 
fluenced thereby. The mind drifts along through the 
descriptive portions, becomes excited amid the dangers 
and fearful troubles; the heart beats quickly; the 
imagination is active; the sympathies are engaged, 
and oftentimes the whole being is convulsed with the 
strongest and deepest emotions, until at the close one 
feels as if he had been through a war, or "was more 
tired than if she had done a big wash." They live 
in the story, and when it closes, life and ambition are 
gone and they are ready to seek rest in sleep ; but the 
scenes through which they have passed crowd the 
mind with shifting fancies, and it is long before it 
succumbs to sleep, " nature's sweet restorer." Even 
then it must wield its harmful scepter in "bad 
dreams " of impurity and sensuality. During wake- 
ful hours dissatisfaction with natural events mani- 
fests itself in many ways. " Life is too common- 
place; wish something would happen. " "Have a 
notion to run away from home and try my luck in the 
world." "I'm tired of life, wonder how death would 



AMUSEMENTS, 2 3 ( J 

feel." "Wish. I could die, I'm so tired of everything," 
u There's nothing new under the sun here; my only 
pleasure is in reading novels." 

Do you not see, dear boys, the injurious effect of 
novel-reading? Suppose instead of a novel you take 
up a good book; for instance, one on temperance. As 
you read of the dreadful condition of the drunkard 
and his family you feel verv thankful that vou and 
your clear ones have escaped the ravages of strong 
drink, and your heart thrills with gratitude. Your 
sympathy is engaged, and you resolve to use 
your influence for their good. This aspiration so 
enthuses your being that it gives an added 
brightness to the commonplace duties of life. 
There is nothing like having some pure, unself- 
ish motive before us to -impart a love of life 
and dutv. Each one needs " something to live for." 
The higher and purer the ambition the more success- 
ful will be the life. We Christian mothers see noth- 
ing so attractive, pure, and ennobling as the love of 
God and the desire to honor and glorify him every 
day in all the duties of life ; " be they great or small, 
few or many." 

You boys who have read novels until vou have no 
ambition for living should turn to the loving Lord 
and let him fill you with the Holy Spirit, and there 
will be no lack in that direction ; for there is much to 
do, and such precious reward for the doing that it 
gives a holy ambition and earnest incentive to life. 

Another sad feature of novel-reading is the injury 



240 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

done to the memory. This faculty of the mind oc- 
cupies a very important part in each of our lives. Its 
power should be increased by proper cultivation, as it 
is very susceptible of improvement, and imparts 
many a favor to those who care for it in proper ways. 

When anything is learned it is held by memory for 
future use. As reading is a means of learning im- 
portant truths, the memory should grasp and retain 
what is read. If, however, the individual reads 
something that is not necessary to keep in memory, 
and does not attempt to retain it, then it drops from 
memory and is as if it had never been known. This 
indifference to retaining knowledge increases with 
very careless reading and becomes so natural that it 
is with great difficulty that most important items are 
retained for any length of time, and one " suffers 
from forgetfulness." 

Years ago the writer was a voracious novel-reader 
and at times was so taken up with a novel that the 
facts and incidents transpiring made little impression 
upon the memory, and are very indistinctly remem- 
bered, if at all. The children who attended school, 
the places visited, the individuals met, are passed in- 
to oblivion with the novels read, while the same are 
well remembered when out of the novel tide of forget- 
fulness. When the evils of novels were seen upon 
mind and body and they were given up, there was an 
effort made to restore memory to its rightful place by 
strongly charging it with what was necessary to be 
learned and retained. This encouraged it to greater 



AMUSEMENTS. 241 

strength ; but if a failure was made in not charging it 
strongly, the facts dropped from memory's casket, 
and left no trace of their existence. This became so 
tiresome that when it was observed to be so great a 
detraction from usefulness, the need was taken to 
God in prayer and the answer was very encouraging 
and helpful, and the soul is moved to thanksgiving. 
At times a glimpse is caught of the possibilities of a 
perfectly cared for mind and memory, and an earnest 
impulse and desire stirs the heart to sound out a faith- 
ful word of warning to the young. 

Another evil aspect of novels is the undercurrent 
of sensuality that bestirs the sexual desires and en- 
courages to impurity of thought and action. There 
are different grades of novels. Some lay claim to the 
highest standard of literature, and are read for their 
" high ideals and beautiful language." But often 
these same novels cover up by the beautiful language 
such impurity as ought to make every reader blush 
for shame as he catches a glimpse of it and feels its 
power upon the lower part of his nature. Then there 
are the religious novels with their false ideas and 
teachings, that lead souls away from the truth and 
blind their eyes to sin, and do them incalculable in- 
jury for time and eternity. The only safe rule for 
the young is to leave novels alone, and keep ears and 
eyes open for the good and true. 

Love of amusement leads to the circus and the 
theater. For many people there is no greater plea- 
sure than sight-seeing in all its forms. Their eyes are 



242 mothers' counsel to thmr sons. 

never satisfied. They are on the lookout for some- 
thing new and nice. 

These two amusements are very worldly and ungod- 
ly, as there is much presented that is impure and 
leads to the grosser evils. The stage is in direct op- 
position to the pulpit and the Bible. The plays per- 
formed are generally on the line of novels, with scenes 
that carry one into the strongest imagination and 
leave him unsatisfied with natural life, which is one 
of the greatest evils that can befall an individual. 
Pleasure-seekers rarely amount to much in the world ; 
for they live for their own gratification. 

Sometimes the question has been asked, " Can 
Christians go to the theater and the circus V y Do 
they want to go ? For what reason does any one go ? 
Let every one who desires to go to such places, but 
who thinks he is a Christian, ask himself, " Would 
Jesus go there ?" If not, then it is no place for his 
followers. We know many professing Christians 
frequent these places and seem to enjoy themselves 
greatly; but they are generally the ones who do not 
enjoy reading the Bible, pray little, and have no bur- 
den for the salvation of souls. Their hearts are not 
in gospel work, and they know not what the joy of 
the Lord is. The professors who enjoy such amuse- 
ments should examine themselves by Bible truth and 
see if they are Bible Christians — that is, made after 
the Bible pattern — for they are the only ones who 
have an abundant entrance into eternal glory. " Well, 
I wish the Bible were clearer on such things," says 



AMUSEMENTS. 243 

some one ; " I never could find anything that con- 
demned them, yet I know the most devoted Christians 
wonder how any one can go there who thinks he is a 
Christian." Listen to a word of helpfulness on that 
line. While there are scriptures that apply directly 
to these amusements to those who are truly spiritual, 
those who are not cannot apply them correctly. One 
of the works of the flesh is " revelings," another is 
"foolishness," and a third is "ungodliness." The world 
must have such things as go under these heads, and 
where will we find them if not in the things that do 
not pertain to the worship of God, or the duties of 
life. 

In the Bible the Christian life is so clearlv and 
beautifully portrayed that it is easily seen that 
worldly pleasures are left out. A man when con- 
verted is made a new creature. Behold, old things 
are passed away, all things have become new. That 
which was once loved is now hated, and that which 
was hated is now loved. Salvation changes the heart 
of man and makes it love heavenly things. The 
reason so many professing Christians love worldly 
amusements is because they are trying to serve God 
without a real experience in the heart. I tried this 
way a number of years and found it very unsatisfac- 
tory; but when I sought for a Bible experience, it so 
far surpassed my expectation that it perfectly satisfied 
every longing of my soul, and brought me joy that far 
exceeded the earthly; so there was found no place for 
worldly amusements. 



244 MOTHEKS* COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

Another source of pleasure is the dance. Knowing 
what we do about it, Christian mothers wonder how 
it is possible for right-minded men and women to give 
it sanction in their homes or public places. Can it 
be possible that knowing the hidden evils thereof they 
hold their peace for fear of the censure that falls upon 
those that cry out against popular evils? "We hope 
not, but leave this with them and their God, assuring 
our hearts that, let others do as they may, our 
heavenly father requires us to sound out a note of 
warning to the innocent, and give an exhortation to 
those ensnared by its deceptions, in hope that we may 
persuade some to abandon forever the sensual joys of 
the ballroom. 

At first glance the dance appears little different 
from many of the social entertainments of the present 
time; but as we look more closely we are much dis- 
turbed by some of the positions taken by both sexes, 
and wonder how it is allowed by those who claim right 
to " high-life society." 

There is nothing of refinement, culture, dignity, or 
even common modesty in the performance of the 
varied figures and exciting motions. It does not re- 
quire brains nor education to become a good dancer, 
but any one may learn in a very short time the secret 
of success in this " delightful recreation," as it is 
called. 

Let us now consider some of the pleas for it, made 
by its devotees. "The music is attractive and inspires 
to motion that is most graceful and becoming." Then 



AMUSEMENTS. 245 

why not let each one move as he is inspired to by the 
music? But you are mistaken about the inspiration 
of music for motion. You learn music and motion 
from a dancing-master or from observing others, and 
then the two go together. If one learns to sing a 
song from playing it upon an instrument, it is natural 
to desire the music while singing the song. Iso matter 
how much or what kind of music I might hear, it 
would not inspire me to dance — for I never learned 
the art. When w T e hear fine music it w 7 afts our 
thoughts above the low and coarse things of life, up 
to the beautiful, grand, and heavenly; and w T hen our 
souls are filled to overflowing with the love of God, 
we " leap for joy " (not in circles and figures) to the 
glory of God, and give him praise. The thought 
of the dancer is not turned heavenward, neither do 
their lips speak God's praise. Their thoughts are far 
below T his. 

The next plea is: "Dancing motion is good recrea- 
tion and produces gracefulness." "We once had a 
lady boarder who besought us to permit her to bring 
a lady friend with her for a week "to enjoy the pure 
country air and rest up from the winter's dissipation." 
On inquiry we found she had danced most all night 
several times a week, and had attended parties and 
theaters until she w r as all worn out. How is that for 
the wholesome exercise of dancing? She was so grace- 
ful as to sleep until dinner time, and then require the 
daintiest food to tempt her appetite. The afternoon 
was "lounged away" with tales of the winter's gaieties; 



246 MOTHERS* COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

not one word to show that her thoughts soared above 
the earthly through her great endeavors to shine. 
Mothers send their children to dancing-school to make 
them graceful, but the result is they marry below 
themselves in social life and manifest a boldness that 
is far from graceful. 

Another plea is: "Dancing is far better than many 
other amusements, as all its doings are before the eyes 
of many, and nothing imprudent can occur." There 
is just where the great mistake is made; for those who 
engage in the dance must first lose that fine sense of 
propriety and the essence of modesty that protects 
them from improper conduct. Those who have entered 
dancing-schools have been shocked by the positions 
taken by the dancing-master, but have assured them- 
selves that "there is no harm intended, for so many 
good people countenance it, or they would not dance/' 
If a woman would permit her gentlemen acquain- 
tances to take the same liberties with her when alone 
in the parlor, they would have reason to believe she 
would welcome further approaches toward impurity. 

Men know and admit that the tendency of the 
dance is to sexuality, and in it they find much that 
gratifies their lower nature ; but let one center his 
affection upon a lady, and he becomes very loath to 
see her in the embrace of some other man ; so he tries 
to obtain a promise from her to dance with none but 
himself. This shows clearly that they know there 
are feelings and emotions aroused that should be con- 
fined to those most closely united. It is sometimes 



AMUSEMENTS. 247 

termed jealousy, but that covers the ground for effect. 
Men also know and admit that the best partners are 
those who yield themselves up to their own move- 
ments and feelings and partake of " all that lust could 
desire except the overt act of crime." " The whole 
dancing system is contrived for the purpose of sexual 
enjoyment outside of marriage," and is " a school of 
vice and an allurement to the house of prostitution." 
"In order to overcome intemperance the saloons must 
be closed by the prohibition of the manufacture and 
sale of strong drink, and to overthrow sexual cor- 
ruption through the houses of prostitution there needsi 
to be a strong strike made against its source — the 
dancing-school." 

Now, boys, you know you have a great warfare 
with your fleshly desires, without stimulating 
them by such amusements as lead you into 
deeper and stronger evils. Those who dance 
know they have greater respect for women 
who do not dance than they have for those whom 
they see in the lustful embrace of the libertine, and 
are f ree to talk about in the most vulgar manner when 
by themselves, after the ball is over. Those who have 
respect for womanhood should strive to shield women 
from the disgrace of the dance and its sad results. 
Men stirred to the depths by lust are not slow to take 
advantage of opportunities for its gratification with 
the innocent, and plan their destruction in many sly 
and subtle ways. Dancing-masters acknowledge the 
downfall of their pupils caused by the seductive 



248 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

power of libertines, who infest dancing society as fine 
society gentlemen, as a means of reaching the inno- 
cent to satisfy their own desires and entice them to 
the brothel for money reward from its keeper. 

It is stated by good authority that " two-thirds of 
the girls who are ruined fall through the influence of 
dancing." Who of you wants to lend his influence 
to this kind of business ? Who wants to be so in- 
flamed with sexuality as to enter this field as a des- 
troyer of woman's virtue, or follow her to the lowest 
depths of shame in houses of prostitution that curse 
our fair land ? 

Oh, can it be possible that any of our boys, our 
dearly beloved sons, would ever aid in any way the 
downfall of our daughters or sisters? O boys, 
awaken to your manhood, gain control of yourselves, 
and never be found in any place where you would not 
want to take your mother or sister. Are you not glad 
there are many women and girls who do not yield to 
impurity ? Then be worthy of their regard and af- 
fection. 

The impurity of dancing makes it a most harmful 
pastime; not alone for the moral, but for the physical 
man. One may labor every day of the week and be 
so refreshed by the night's rest that he feels no evil 
effects. But should he dance a few hours each even- 
ing, " for exercise," he will quickly see the difference. 
The close contact with the opposite sex in arousing 
and continuing strong excitement of the passions 
makes it, according to the claim of physicians, " the 



AMUSEMENTS. 249 

most harmful exercise for both sexes." The dance 
would lose its popularity if it were confined to one 
sex, or to married people. Life is cut short by the 
dance; many physical evils arising therefrom, especial- 
ly with women. The average " length of days " for 
the excessive male dancer is thirty-one years. If 
dancing does not always lead men to the loss of virtue 
through adultery, it increases the development of sex- 
uality that finds present relief and future destruc- 
tion in secret vice (or self -pollution) that causes most 
of the sexual ailments of men, and brings them to 
utter wretchedness. 

The only way of escape is to be not enticed into 
the meshes of this net of lust and destruction, because 
it outwardly appears fair and is endorsed by fashion- 
able high-life society, but weigh it well in view of 
eternal judgment. 

Dancers often admit that their pleasure in dancing 
is overbalanced bv the remorse of conscience, and the 
displeasure of God resting upon them in their quiet 
hours or during the silent watches of the night or 
when death stares them in the face. It is a very en- 
ticing pleasure, and all need the help of God to un- 
derstand its allurements or to enable them to give it 
up. The very strongest desire for it may be taken 
away by the salvation of Jesus, and other joys found 
that far surpass the earthly. 

There are other sources of worldly pleasure we 
might mention ; such as play parties, socials, festivals, 
picnics, etc., that are endorsed by many who disap- 



250 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

prove of the foregoing; but there is great need of 
carefulness in drawing the lines between sin and 
righteousness. Some who have gone into the grosser 
evils have been led there by the lesser ones, which 
have as " little foxes destroyed the vines." 

Everything that makes people gay, frivolous, and 
foolish, makes them careless about spiritual things 
and drives away the Spirit of God, who is seeking to 
draw men's hearts unto himself, that they may find 
in him more than the world can give — even joys 
eternal. How many times we hear the testimony of 
men and women who have tried to drown the voice of 
conscience and grieve the convicting Spirit of God 
by going deeper into sin. Some have done so to 
their future destruction, while some have only par- 
tially succeeded, and were at last drawn unto God. 
It is not safe to choose our own way or to seek for, 
our own amusement and joy. 

Let us look at it fairly ! 

The drunkard finds his pleasure in drink. 

The lustful finds his enjoyment in the gratification 
of lust in secret vice or adultery. 

The card-player finds his pleasure in gambling. 

The chewer and smoker, in tobacco. 

The society devotee, in the dance, modern court- 
ship, the theater. 

The formal professor, in parties, socials, festivals, 
and picnics. 

The Christian finds his pleasure in God, and 
Christian good works. 



AMUSEMENTS. 251 

No one can intermix worldly pleasures with 
Christian duty without a reproof from God in some 
way ; for he shall hear a voice saying, " This is the 
way, walk ye in it," and if he is seeking to do God's 
will, he will make inquiry of God before he enters 
into anything of which he is the least uncertain. 
" Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." How 
can any one glorify God in seeking for pleasure in 
worldly ways \ We wish to show the boys that there 
is no need of these things; for the joy of God — the 
peace and love that passes understanding — is far 
superior to what you can find in worldly things. 

May God bless you all with such a longing for the 
good things of God that you may seek him earnestly 
with all your heart. 

AMUSEMENT'S JOY. 

O joy of earth, how fleeting thou ! 

With all thy boast, how very small 
Are all thy gifts ? not one we tried 

Could ease a pain, or e'er let fall 
On any one, a blessing sweet ; 

But ever keep the richest joys, 
The purest peace, and gracious meat 

From hungry hearts that take thy toys. 

O fickle one, how very false 

Are all thy charms, thy promise too ! 
Though thou art sought in dance and waltz, 

In cards of chance and pot of stew, 
In races great, and circus fair, 

In halls of feast, or lodges grand, 
Thy promise strong is never there ; 

For all is treach'rous, shifting sand. 



252 MOTHERS* COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

You seem so good — so very glad 

To lure the mind and earnest soul 
To brighter things, and give the sad 

A taste of good in frolic's goal — 
But ah ! beneath this seeming good 

There lies a poison, strong and vile, 
That robs their life of holy food, 

And gives them taste for worldly guile. 

Your parties gay but lead to balls, 

And they through dance to secret vice, 
To social evils, shameful falls, 

That prove to us they're never nice. 
Your games of chance to gambling lead, 

To strife and fight, and then to shame 
Behind the bars, to prison's feed, 

To loss of all, yes, even name. 

Your gayest times o'er stage and song 

But lure the mind to baser things. 
Through acts and parts and comic wrong 

There flows a power that ever brings 
The heart to hardness more and more ; 

And conscience, voice is hushed in shame, 
Until the soul the wrongs adore 

And yields in gladness to the same. 

Again, you say in accents sweet, 

" Oh, rest your mind in novels rare, 
And find in love and honors mete, 

A balm for woe or loveless care !" 
In this you know must ever lie 

The power for harm to soul and mind, 
By giving thought and wish to die, 

Or causing them the false to find. 



AMUSEMENTS. 253 

Oh ! would they all could clearly see 

You are a fraud and never do 
Delight yourself in what shall be 

Of good to soul, and ever woo 
To nobler life and love of God, 

To peace and grace and heavenly goal, 
To righteous paths the Savior trod, 

To good to body, mind, and soul. 

Your path is far below the true ; 

It clings to earthly selfish life, 
And vainly tries to have us sue 

For what is given in worldly strife : 
But Christian love and heav'nly grace 

So far exceed your ev'ry gift, 
That they have won a precious place 

Within the heart — a holy rift. 

This keeps us from the joys of earth, 

And lures us further day by day 
Within the realms of gracious worth. 

Oh ! keep us thine, dear Lord, we pray, 
And feed our souls on heav'nly joys, 

That we may serve in pure delight, 
And give no place for earth's alloys, 

But walk in love and holy light. 



BUSINESS. 



We turn from amusements to business, and hope 
many of our sons will follow us with pleasure and 
profit, not only in the reading, but in actual living, 
that they may find how much better it is to find the 
joy of duty than the pleasure of amusements. 

Upon men falls the responsibility of providing a 
living for helpless women and children, as well as 
for themselves. This is no little matter, as the wel- 
fare and happiness of the dear ones is dependent up- 
on it. Whatever is worth doing is worth doing well. 
He should try to succeed in order to " provide for his 
own," because it is a God-given obligation. 

While we are not to be troubled or bear burdens 
about temporal things, yet a certain amount of 
thoughtfulness and care are necessary for any un- 
dertaking if one would be successful in life. 

As this duty stands before boys and young men, it 
is right to prepare themselves therefor by cultivating 
business principles and right rules of action. One 
who labors indifferently and unwisely may never rise 
to the proper standard of business capability, Life 
is a sphere of action, and we should all remember 
that we come not here to pass through this world "on 
flowery beds of ease, but to fight to win the crown," 

354 



BUSINESS. 255 

and labor for our own and others' welfare. Good 
honest work is good for all, developing the physical 
system, thereby strengthening the mind, and aiding 
or preserving the morals ; for " Satan finds some mis- 
chief still for idle hands to do." 

Then, boys, let us look the future bravely in the 
face and prepare for action. Let us make up our 
minds there is work before us — perhaps for many 
years, maybe for only a few ; and whichever it should 
be, our portion of work ought to be well done. It is 
a hard thing sometimes for the young to think they 
must work the majority of their days of life ; for they 
love play and amusement so well that to have no work 
would seem a great favor. Often when left to them- 
selves this idea prevails so largely that they form 
habits of idleness that are hard to overcome. 

There is just so much to be done in this world to 
properly provide for all mankind; therefore there 
must be a proper portion for each individual. If 
one shirks his dutv in labor, some one or more fails 
to be properly cared for, or else his portion of labor 
falls upon some one else perhaps less able to do it. 
Take a family for example. If the father is care- 
less, and indifferent to labor, the mother and children 
are lacking the comforts of life or must put forth 
greater effort by taking a portion of the father's work. 
Many a mother washes for a living, while the hns- 
band " knocks about" attending to trifles; although 
he is far more able to labor hard than the wife with 
her family cares, and his lack of ability to provide 



256 MOTHERS 7 COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

comes from indifference to duty, and a dislike for 
manual labor. Of course this is unjust and must be 
put away when one serves the Lord. 

Again, the father may do his part as provider fair- 
ly well, but if the mother and children are indiffer- 
ent to their responsibilities, many things are left un- 
done that would assist him in his efforts and accom- 
plish much for their own welfare and the good of 
others. 

Oftentimes we see a father and mother equally 
diligent in business in their different spheres, but the 
children are "born shirks." The parents take plea- 
sure in their labors, and when the children manifest 
such a strong dislike for work, they do not feel like 
compelling them to labor, and hope it will not be so 
when the children are older. Sometimes their hopes 
are realized and sometimes they are not, and when 
too late the parents see the folly in bringing them up 
in idleness. 

:N"ot long ago I read the advice of a noted woman 
to parents. It contains several good things that may 
help our sons. She said : " Parents should give each 
child a portion of home care, then notice the kind of 
w T ork he prefers, and give him an opportunity to do 
all he can of that kind of work if possible, while en- 
couraging him to learn to do all kinds well. " 

Children need to have some one to use decision -for 
them in accomplishing some things that to them are 
difficult. Oftentimes they become discouraged, give 
up, and despise that work ever after; because they 



BUSINESS. 257 

were unsuccessful in accomplishing it; but let them 
be encouraged and perhaps assisted, or some attrac- 
tion pointed out to them; and when it is finished 
there is perfect satisfaction, and they say, " Well, I 
believe I'll like to do that when I learn just how." 
Their labor should be changed, as one kind becomes 
tiresome from monotony, and because it tires one set 
of muscles. Fortitude and perseverance are often 
quite deficient, and parents should supply the lack by 
firm decision to accomplish what they undertake. It 
is good also to have them labor with parents who will 
give them something to think of while they work, 
and thus the time passes pleasantly. 

Little ambitions and inducements are great incen- 
tives to labor. If calculations are made and a small 
percentage of profit is given for faithful service, it 
encourages an interest in the business engaged in and 
helps to acquire ability therein. Sometimes we see 
young men leave home who have never had the hand- 
ling of money or been taught anything regarding its 
worth or expenditure. There is just as much to be 
gained by carefulness in the outlay of means as there 
is in obtaining it. Therefore young people should 
be allowed to earn money for clothing, and then be 
instructed in a wise purchase, that " they may have 
lack of nothing." If they are taught to keep accounts 
and live within their income, and not let every at- 
traction lure them into debt or to an unwise outlay, it 
will be of great advantage to them in after years. If 
they see they cannot have everything they desire, then 



258 mothers' counsel to theer sons. 

they will do some thinking before they make a pur- 
chase. 

Some people think it savors of stinginess to be care- 
ful in the use of money ; so when they have any they 
are flush and use it indiscriminately, just as their 
impulses run. 

How would you boys like to have the following? 
Mother goes to town, and because it is your birthday 
and she loves you fondly, she brings you several very 
nice presents, beside candy and nuts, and you have 
a good time for a day and look at your presents joy- 
fully ; but in a week you are in sore need of shoes to 
protect your feet from the cold and ice, and a pair of 
mittens to work in frosty mornings, and some books 
for school, and perhaps other things. Mother says, 
" How I wish I could get them for you, but I have no 
money now; so we must wait till we can sell some- 
thing or you can get some work to do." Do you not 
think she would have expressed her love and care for 
you better if she had remembered your future needs 
and brought you home something useful ? And then, 
if your needs were supplied, she might have brought 
you some little thing you had expressed a desire for 
or something that would help you in some way ? Oh, 
yes! we all should look away from thoughtless im- 
pulse and desire and use wisdom in all the affairs of 
life. That is one way to express our love — by 
thoughtful consideration. 

Let us look at it in another way. Suppose chil- 
dren are needy ? The father can make a dollar a day 



BUSINESS. 259 

every day he will wort, but he stops every few days 
and " lays off, to have a good time." Thus, perhaps 
he fails to procure about a fourth of the necessaries 
of life. You would all say he was selfish and un- 
kind, in his carelessness. Suppose he does work 
every day and gives the money to the mother to pur- 
chase what the family needs. She buys a part — say 
three dollars' worth — then she makes a treat of some- 
thing unnecessary to some one, that costs a dollar. 
Thus she continues spending one dollar needlessly for 
everv three that she uses wisely. Is this not the same 
as the father working onlv three-fourths of the time \ 

CD 1/ 

And is it not just as unkind ? This principle is at 
work evervwhere. There is greater lack of care in 
spending than in making money, by both sexes. 
There is just as much need of self-control on this line 
as on anv other : for the desires of the flesh will lead 

t, 7 

astray whenever possible. 

It is very nice sometimes to make some self-denial 
in order to give to others, and the Lord would have 
us use wisdom in so doing. A mother may deprive 
herself of some nice warm garment in order to give 
her boys some skates for their pleasure. It may not 
be wise ; the mother may take cold, be sick, require 
help, and make quite an extra expense for the hus- 
band to bear ; or the boys may so delight in their 
skating as to neglect work or study, and thus form 
bad habits. If the mother should deprive herself of 
something that will not expose her to sickness, and 
procure something for her boy's spiritual and intel- 



260 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

lectual good, the blessing of God would rest upon it 
and prove a blessing to all. 

We may deny ourselves even necessaries in order 
to help those more needy, and not experience any 
serious inconvenience in so doing, when it is done in 
wisdom and not as a mere impulse without fore- 
thought. Again, one is always safe in doing what 
the loving Lord may lead to do, knowing he never 
makes a mistake. 

There was a missionary who went to visit a needy 
family. To encourage them to trust in the Lord in 
their need, he repeated several scriptures, and told 
them a number of instances of wonderful answers to 
prayer. He was about to leave the house, excusing 
himself from giving them temporal aid on the ground 
that what he had in his pocket was in wisdom laid 
aside for clothing, which he intended buying imme- 
diately because much needed, when he was arrested 
by a voice saying, " Why don't you practice what 
you preach? Why not you do the trusting, and let 
them have the money ? He hesitated a moment and 
thought it over. If some one should do the trusting, 
why not he as an example of faith to them? He 
drew out the money and handed it to them, saying, 
"I was to use this for my winter's clothing, but you 
may have it ; I will trust the Lord for more." They 
were astonished, but recovering from it, said, earnest- 
ly, " If you can trust for your clothes, we will en- 
deavor to trust for the supply of our needs. 

When he returned home, joyful in his strength of 



BUSINESS. 261 

faith, and willing to wait God's own time to supply 
his need, he found a small parcel awaiting him, which 
proved to be a much-needed pair of gloves. When he 
attempted to put them on, something prevented, and 
on examination proved to be a roll of money — double 
the amount given away. He used his portion for 
clothes, and with a heart of thanksgiving carried the 
rest to the needv family, who were so affected by the 
loving-kindness of God that they yielded fully to his 
service, were strengthened in courage and faith, and 
were soon supplied with work to support themselves, 
and means to assist the mission work they loved so 
well. 

The instruction of the Bible is to " labor, working 
with his hands the thing which is good, that he may 
have to give to him that needetk." To some this is 
hard work, as they want to lay up their treasures here. 
If we remember that giving to the poor is lending to 
the Lord and laying up treasure above, and is a real 
fruit of holy love, then that will help us to do all 
things for God's glory and not to please ourselves. 

Now, bovs, we do not doubt that you would all like 
to be " good business men in order to have what you 
want;" but are you just willing to be good business 
men and have what you need? Are you willing to 
labor hard for even your needs ? We fear some of 
you are not ; for there is a great desire at the present 
time " to take life easy," " make money without 
work" and "make a living by my wits." Xow let 
us think a moment. Can any one "take life easy," and 



262 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

mate a success of it in every way? You answer, 
" IsTo." Those who try to do so shirk some respon- 
sibility, and prove unfaithful to their obligations. 
Can any one make money honestly without some kind 
of labor? You answer again, "No;" and this too 
is a fact. Those who think they make money without 
work are simply taking other people's money by some 
fraud; but still that often requires an effort that is 
greater than common labor, and proves a greater 
strain upon the one doing it. Besides, no one who 
does this is acting wisely or honorably, or can do so 
long without serious results to him here or in eter- 
nity. ^ 

Is it possible to make a living by one's wits in an 
honorable and just way? Yes, you say; for you are 
thinking of intellectual labor, which has a good 
compensation in many forms of business. But that 
is not what is meant. One who makes his living by 
his wits is using them in some swindling, cheating, 
sharp doings, etc., as this comes on the line of mak- 
ing money without work, and is dishonesty in the 
worst form. So now we bring it to this point: Each 
one must labor in some way in order to fill his place 
in life in justice. 

Some work with their hands, and use very little 
mental ability with it, and so form the lowest class of 
workers. Others work less hard with their hands, 
but use their reasoning powers and judgment so well 
that they accomplish more in many ways. There 
are some whose mental work is more severe and over- 



BUSINESS. 20- 



taxing than any manual labor could be, and receives 
a proper reward. 

Perhaps you are thinking of some people you know 
who do not work for their living, and you wonder 
where they belong. We will class them as butter- 
flies — they sip the nectar from every bud and flower, 
and give nothing in return. Their money makes 
their living, and withholds from many the opportun- 
ity of being well provided with homes and suitable 
employment. The Bible says, " Woe unto you that 
are rich; for ye have received your consolation." — • 
Luke 6 : 24 "How hardly shall they that have richer 
enter into the kingdom of God!" * * * "Children, 
how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter 
into the kingdom of God ! It is easier for a camel 
to go through the. eye of a needle, than for a rich man 
to enter into the kingdom of God." — Mark 10:23-26. 
Those who are rich are to be willing to distribute, 
ready for every good work ; so their riches, would not 
long remain to them. 

" Well," you may say, " if we cannot be rich, there 
is no need of working — there is no incentive to be 
good business men." Oh, yes, there is, dear boy- ! 
There are many paths of duty that are fairer than 
the path to riches, or to self-gratification. 

Love is a wonderful power ; let it induce you to 
be as diligent in business as you can, then properly 
care for your dear ones. Right is far above wrong; 
be earnest workers because it is right. Honor is 
worthy of esteem and attainment; and labor a-i 



264 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

toward honor; for faithful labor is honorable, 
while idleness is dishonorable in this sinful and 
needy world of woe. Be laborers together with 
God, and let your toil assist precious souls to 
eternal glory. What can be more grand, more 
worthy of approval, or can do you so much good 
now and hereafter? 

" Well, what can boys do toward helping them- 
selves to become good business men VI They must be 
good boys, and aspire to a good honest business; learn 
to love labor, to be diligent, punctual, persevering, 
thoughtful, and accurate. Tow let us see what that 
means. To love labor is to take pleasure in exertion, 
both physical and intellectual. It takes away the 
shirking from what would be unpleasant effort, and 
makes it agreeable. To be diligent means to waste no 
unnecessary time, but apply one's self to business 
earnestly. To be punctual means to be prompt in 
meeting your engagements; and especially, to be at 
your post a little ahead of time rather than a minute 
behind, if you are working where there is a stated 
time to begin. To be persevering means very much, 
as it is to be not discouraged by the many things that 
seem to oppose progress in our labors, but to toil on 
patiently, knowing success must follow wise labor. 
Thoughtfulness will see many improvements, ways of 
economy of time and labor, and make variations in 
what would be dull routine. Accuracy will make 
careful calculations in business ventures, in outlays 
and incomes, and keep accounts straight. If you 



BUSINESS. 265 

begin on this line while young, you will soon see a 
real beauty in faithfulness to business. 

Some of you, as you look around, and see so many 
out of work yet good, willing workers, may think 
there is no chance for you ; for there are too manv 
working boys already, and you will aspire to some- 
thing higher, although you are very uncertain as to 
what that will be. " There is always room at the 
top '" means there is in every business occupation 
room for those who are most efficient laborers. 
Thus it means, " What is worth doing is worth 
doing well." May this be your motto, and bring you 
success. 

This reminds me of an experience told many times 
by a dear one. A man with a family of children and 
wife entered into a western city during the drouth of 
1860, with only a few cents change in his pocket. He 
was a good mechanic and had no doubt of finding 
work to support his family. He immediately began 
to seek for it earnestly, but found none, as there was 
little being done, because of the very dry summer. 
One large, fine house was being built, but all the work- 
men were engaged. Xo one had taken the contract 
for making the window sash, and it was still open 
for bids. Our mechanic was not slow in casting in 
his bid, at the lowest possible figure, and was given 
the work. He did it faithfully, wisely, and well, 
thus showing the building contractor his ability as a 
workman, and when the grand staircase was to be 
built, he was given the work, because of the fineness of 



266 MOTHEKS' COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

his workmanship, and thereafter had no lack of em- 
ployment. 

Another point is willingness to do the best one can 
under adverse circumstances. Many good workers 
will never lower their wages, no matter how necessary 
it is to have work, and so fail to believe that " half a 
loaf is better than none." There are always oppor- 
tunities of aiding others by giving service at reduced 
prices, and steady employment at lower wages is 
w T orth more than an occasional job at high wages. 
Another thought is this. Many only " labor for what 
they get out of it," and if they are doing work for 
some one they take no interest in it only so far as they 
are concerned, and their disinterestedness cuts short 
their engagement. Natural hearts are very much 
alike, and are moved by the same impulses. Let a 
bright, cheerful, willing boy or man take hold of a 
piece of work, take an interest in it, make suggestions, 
do it faithfully and well, and be not afraid to do a 
little more than his share of labor ; and the heart of 
his employer if it be not adamant, will be touched 
with the same feelings, and he will cheerfully grant 
the little favors that help along in all our lives; for no 
one lives to himself, but we are all more or less de- 
pendent upon one another. If one may choose his 
helpers, the choice falls upon those who make them- 
selves necessary and modestly pleasant. 

There is remembrance of a boy who entered a store 
as an errand boy. His work was to make fires, open 
boxes, sweep, and dust, which he did faithfully, plac- 



BUSINESS. 267 

ing goods in neat and effective shapes, arranging 
windows in attractive style; and then opened and shut 
doors, carried out goods, held horses, etc., making 
himself generally useful. The merchant's trade re- 
vived, and the boy became a necessity to him, to sup- 
ply what he lacked to be successful, and for which he 
could afford to pay well. Many boys had stepped 
over this opportunity, because they did not see it or 
failed to do more than necessary, or took little interest 
in their employer's business. Wherever you are, 
boys, make yourselves useful in doing well what is to 
be done. Have a real strong spirit of helpfulness, 
so no one will fear to ask favors of you. 

Visiting the home of an acquaintance, the lady 
was strong in praise of a young preacher who had 
lately made his home with them for a short time. 
She said laughingly, "Why, he just anticipated my 
every wish — was there need of water, it came so 
quietly and easily that no one dreamed he was acting 
chore boy;" or if the fire needed replenishing, he saw 
it first, and did it just right. His room was kept in 
perfect order, and nothing of his was left in the way 
of others. He was certainly his mother's helper, and 
a grand, good one." Often boys and young men 
would like to help around the house, but seem to know 
so little about it that they fear to make an attempt. 
If they will just whisper the wish to the one who 
cares for them, she may be able to show them how to 
be helpful to her, and thus form good ways that will 
assist others wherever they go, and make life's path- 



268 MOTHERS COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

way more pleasant. Notice how others do the tilings 
you would like to do, and then do them in the same 
way or in a manner that will recommend itself to them 
as more appropriate. 

It is a fine addition to any one's education to be able 
to do easily the home duties that often are left undone 
when sickness attacks the housekeepers. How many 
times a weary mother, barely able to move around, 
must perform the necessary work for strong husbands 
and sons, because they do not know how to get a meal, 
wash dishes, or sweep! How nice it is when a bad 
headache lays mother or wife aside, to know that the 
work will move forward much the same as usual, and 
is not piling up for extra effort when the illness is 
past. Now, boys, when your mothers desire your 
help, give it to them freely, for you do not know how 
much it assists them, or how useful the training may 
be to you in later years. 

One mother, who was spending a portion of her 
time in assisting her husband to provide for the 
family, and who had several sons but no daughters, 
was teaching them to perform housework as perfectly 
and as easily as if they were girls, and remarked that 
she was trying to make good husbands for some 
mother's girls, and hoped they were making good 
wives for her sons. This is the thought. How nice 
it is to be able to more than fill our own little sphere, 
and be ready to extend it to others in general help- 
fulness! We hope the brothers and sisters who read 
this will learn to exchange work; that will aid them 



BUSINESS. 269 

in the future. jSTot long ago a sister said to her 
brother, "If you will wash the dishes, I'll pile up wood 
for you." The exchange was made, and pleased both 
as a relief from routine work. 

Now, boys, we would not conclude this subject with- 
out urging upon you the necessity of being extremely 
honest in all your business transactions, and applying 
the golden rule in all your dealings with others. 
" Honesty is the best policy/' even in dollars and 
cents; and when it is counted in morality, there is 
little to exceed it in value. An honest man is one 
who can be trusted. He is just, honorable in all his 
dealings, and above deceit and unfairness. He may 
not appear to be as prosperous as those who are not 
careful to be honest in business matters, but he is solid 
and worthy to be relied upon at all times; and if 
capable, will succeed in his undertakings; for men 
in general appreciate honesty when in their favor. 

A choice of occupation should be carefully con- 
sidered, and wisdom used to decide; for the one for 
which each one is best fitted, and that seems most 
congenial to taste and circumstances of life, will assist 
him in spiritual things and be a means of aiding 
others. In fact, one should be perfectly satisfied that 
he is in the place God designed he should occupy for 
his glory. One can be just as fully consecrated to 
do God's will and just as earnest and faithful a stew- 
ard while on the farm, or in a shop, store, mill, or 
office, as if he were in gospel work, as long as he abides 
faithful in the calling to which he is called. There 



27Q MOTHERS* COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

are many ways by which we may assist in salvation 
work. Those who are blessed with business ability 
and readily make money should remember not to 
hide their talent, but improve it to God's glory. As 
long as we obey the gospel precept " Diligent in busi- 
ness, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord," the business 
part will not outrun the spiritual and make one 
worldly or covetous, but tend to advance the soul in 
the grace of God, It is necessary, however, to be 
ready to change positions, to lay down arms, and to< 
move forward at the command of the Captain of our 
salvation. Sometimes he takes his reinforcements 
from the different stations of life and places them in 
the forefront of the battle to urge forward the force 
to victory. Keep your heart and ears ready for the 
call while you are doing with your might what your 
hands find to do, as unto God and not unto men. 

Business need not hinder the soul in communion 
with God or prevent wonderful victories of faith 
from attending your personal efforts for the good of 
souls. Oftentimes God's children are pressed down 
with the fear that honest and earnest effort in busi- 
ness will detract from their spirituality; so it is left 
in careless indifference that prevents diligence, and so 
little is accomplished. 

Awake, dear ones, to earnestness! If you are not 
called to u stand upon the walls of Zion," then stand 
in your place, fill it well as a living sermon to those 
around you, and send forth the ammunition of war 
against sin, in the shape of holy literature and free 



BUSINESS. 271 

Bibles for the poor, and speed on his way the gospel 
messenger, that he may reach the unknown thou- 
sands that have never heard the precious gospel of 
salvation from sin, and backed up by earnest prayer 
and devotion it may accomplish more than those who 
go half-heartedly and with little faith into the wide 
gospel field. 

Xow, dear boys, we have considered many of the 
subjects of life, and looked at them from reason's 
point of view and in remembrance of the judgment 
day. !N"ow we come to the subjects that more closely 
pertain to eternal life, and as you have no doubt been 
interested in the previous lessons, we know you will 
be in what is to follow, as it leads us to higher and 
holier themes. May God bless you and make them 
a power for your eternal good, is the prayer of 
Christian mothers, 



272 mothers' counsel to their sons. 



THE MOTHERS' HOPE. 

Our mothers' hearts so loving, true, 
Are praying much, our sons, for you, 
That you may guide your feet aright, 
And shun that dark and awful night 
Of sin and woe that tries so well 
To wreck your souls in endless hell. 

If you will heed in youthful days 
The voice that ever for you prays, 
Then you are wise, and shall not come 
To terrors great, that's promised some, 
Who turn from right and choose the wrong, 
To walk in joy amid the throng. 

Then take your place beside the right, 
And enter boldly in the fight 
For God and truth and heav'nly land, 
That stands before the praying band, 
Who strive to win to truth and grace 
Our sons, that they may win the race. 



EELIGIOX— TRUE AXD FALSE. 



AVe come to tlie most important subject that can 
engage our attention. That man is a religious being 
inclined to worship and serve something he considers 
a god, cannot be denied, as we look about and see 
various nationalities of people performing religious 
services pertaining to the different beliefs that exist 
in the world. This shows that the Great Creator 
endowed man with a religious principle that should, 
if properly used, lead unto the true and living God, 
that made heaven and earth and all that in them is. 
In doing so, the loving Father has done all that could 
be done for man, and leave him a free moral agent 
responsible for his decisions and actions. It is a great 
thing to be given the privilege of choosing our future 
destiny — to be able to make choice of good or evil. 
Upon no other basis could God in justice and mercy 
set before us life and death, reward and punishment. 
Only upon this plane of moral freedom could man be 
reached with a plan of salvation that would prepare 
for a glorious world of purity. 

As we look out upon this wide world with its laws 
and harmony, and see how all are to work for good 
to man, we know positively that a great mind planned 



273 



274 MOTHERS* COUNSEL TO THEIB SONS, 

all for a wise purpose; for all his works are in wisdom. 
This makes us desire to know more of him who hath 
spoken to our souls so plainly in the wonderful works 
of creation. 

Another thought that is of great benefit to us, if we 
will receive it, is this: The mind and power that crem- 
ated the universe and arranged so well for the good of 
man would know 7 that we as thinking beings w r ould 
wonder, and desire to know about the Creator, and so 
he would meet that need in some way for man's 
benefit. He has done so in love by giving us the 
Bible, and its record is this : " In the beginning God 
created the heaven and the earth." It is so emphatic, 
so concise and to the point, that we have no need to 
doubt; but as we read the Bible further, we find that 
after man was created God walked and talked with 
him in the Garden of Eden. As men lived to great 
age the generations that followed must have con- 
versed freely over the wonders of God's creation, and 
his dealings with man. However, as we read we see 
that for many years God continued to talk to those 
who trusted in him, and gave them needed instruc- 
tion that they obeyed. 

This record inspired by the Spirit of God was given 
by Moses who lived 1,460 years B. C, or over 2,500 
years after the creation. A part of this record covers 
a period of time for which there was no other account 
kept — no profane history — but we see from other por- 
tions of the Bible, including Christ's and the apostles' 
teachings, that the record given by Moses is correct, 



EELIOJON TRUE AND FALSE. 275 

as it was accepted by them, and many portions re- 
peated in their teachings of truth. Another proof we 
have of the divinity of the Bible is that its promises 
are verified to those who meet the conditions of re- 
ception. For instance, it says, " Come unto me, all 
ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you 
rest." Let an individual, pressed down by sin and 
sorrow, decide to love and serve God, and accept this 
promise as his, it is very soon fulfilled to him, and his 
burden of sin and care is removed and he is made 
happy in the love of God. In old times God spoke 
through the prophets, and their prophecies were ful- 
filled at the proper times. Many are the prophecies 
of the Old Testament concerning the coming of a 
Savior, the circumstances of his life, and death upon 
the cross; and they were all fulfilled to the very letter. 
Thus we know the teachings of the word of God are 
strong and true, and must be fulfilled. 

Now, let us go back in thought to the record God 
has given of himself. Speaking through a prophet, 
he says: " Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the 
ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none 
else." — Isa. 45:22. Speaking to Moses in the burn- 
ing bush, he said, " I am the God of thy father, the 
God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of 
Jacob."— Mark 12:26; Ex. 3:6. "And Jesus an- 
swered him, The first of all the commandments is. 
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: and 
thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, 
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with 



276 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

all thy strength." — Mark 12:29, 30. From these 
scriptures we see plainly that God wants us to recog- 
nize him as God, and to love and serve him. Now 
comes the question in many hearts: " Why should we 
love and serve him? " Because it is right; he is 
our Creator, a great and good being from whom we 
receive all our blessings. We love, honor, and serve 
our earthly parents — how much more ought we to do> 
the same to our heavenly Father ! Let us see what 
more w r e can find in the Bible concerning him. " God 
is love." "God is light, and in him is no darkness." 
" There is none good but one : that is God," " the 
only true God." " God is a Spirit." 

Now, dear boys, from these few short scriptures wei 
may learn much about our God, and why we sliould 
love him. Let us examine them carefullv. " God 
is love." Love is good, pure, and worthy of honor; 
so if God is love and we honor love, we will in reality 
honor God. Again, " God is light." Do we esteem 
light more than darkness? If God is light, we must 
honor him because he is so much better than dark- 
ness. Again, " There is none good but God." So we 
find he is good. Do we love goodness? If so, we 
should honor God, as he is all that is good and pure, 
and not one of us can be good without his help. He 
is " the only true God." As he is the only God, and 
is a true God, he is a peculiar being — there is none 
like him — and as he is true, we need not fear to 
believe and trust him. Again, we find " God is a 
Spirit," " Oh," says one, " that is so mysterious that 



IiELICIOX TRUE AKT> FALSE. 277 

I cannot comprehend it." Well, let us see. Here 
are two boys going home from school. One of them 
carries the books for a little schoolmate, helps several 
others over the bad places, does all he can to make 
them happy. The other boy knocks off the little 
ones' caps, runs off with their dinner pails, and finally 
pushes oaie upon a wire fence, hurting him cruelly. 
He teases and torments all who will heed him, thus 
bringing them sorrow. What would you call those 
boys to distinguish them by their actions? " Oh," 
you say, " the first one was good and the other was 
hadr That is right; for " even a child is known by 
his doings, whether they are good or bad." Xow a 
bad boy is letting a bad spirit move him to badness, 
and has a bad spirit; and a good boy is letting a 
good spirit move him, and therefore has a good 
spirit. God is a spirit of love, light, goodness, and 
truth. He is all love, all light, all goodness, and all 
truth; therefore worthy of our highest regard and 
love. Added to this he is " all-wise/' " gracious," 
" merciful/' " just," " faithful," " almighty/' " eter- 
nal." Combine all these qualities, and we see by faitli 
the most wonderful being that our minds could con- 
ceive of. Indeed, we cannot to any degree compre- 
hend him in all the attributes of his character. 

Now, boys, did you ever think lightly of God \ Will 
you try to understand him better? Look here! You 
play with your schoolmates in perfect freedom, act as 
you please, speak as you please, and look as you 
please. You realize you are on the same level, all 



278 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

children, together. Now, let a teacher, preacher, or 
stranger be with you, and you feel a constraint. You 
know they are above you and know more; therefore 
your respect for them is greater, and makes you feel 
your littleness, and you keep quite still and do not 
draw their attention to yourself. Now, if you should 
come into the presence of a governor, a president, or 
a king or queen, you would feel more backward, 
would recognize their greatness, and have very great 
respect for them. This is natural. Now, as we have 
contemplated the character of God, we ought to have 
great respect for him; that is, give him honor and 
esteem. We can do that naturally — realizing our 
dependence upon him, and being grateful for mercies 
and blessings — without really obeying the first com- 
mandment, to love him with all the powers of our 
being; but we cannot truly love him as we ought^ 
without first comprehending his greatness, and love 
toward us. "We love him because he first loved us." 
Now let us look again to his word, the Bible, and 
see if he wants man to recognize him through his 
works. In the nineteenth Psalm we find this most 
beautiful language: " The heavens declare the glory 
of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork. 
Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night 
showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language 
where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone 
out through all the earth, and their words to the end 
of the world." From this language we may know 
that through the greatness and wonders of the uni- 



EELIGIOtf TRUE AND FALSE. 279 

verse he speaks wisdom to every human being, and 
would have him stop and consider the great reality 
of life. As we behold the works of God, the thoughts 
come: " Oh, how grand! how wonderful! Surely a 
mighty hand has formed all this. What for? "Why 
am I here? Is this all? How may I know more? 
Surely not only a wise but a loving hand formed all 
things — yes, even myself. What does he want of 
me? I would love to know more of him — the great 
Creator." We dwell upon it. God is near and knows 
the desire of the soul; he gives precious thoughts and 
the desire is strengthened until it overreaches all other 
wishes, and the soul is seeking after God. " Because 
that which may be known of God is manifest in them; 
for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible 
things of him from the creation of the world are 
clearly seen, being understood by the things that are 
made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that 
they are without excuse." — Rom. 1 : 19, 20. 

The soul recognizes the eternal power and God- 
head of the Creator through his works, and the soul 
is brought to humbly seek to know more of him, and 
the promise is: " And ye shall seek me, and find me, 
when ye shall search for me with all your heart." 
Yes, " God will move mountains " and " work 
wonders " to bring souls to the knowledge of his will, 
when they desire to know it. 

Oh, dear boys! how many of you are seeking to 
know God? If you had the opportunity of making 
the acquaintance of a renowned person who could 



280 MOTHERS COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

grant you many favors, you would not be slow in 
doing so. You may know God. You may so love 
him that he will be unto you more than treasures 
of gold and silver — yea, more than life and all else. 
When God is so willing to reveal himself to mankind, 
is it not sad that all do not seek to' know him? 

Let us look further and see what God's purposes 
are concerning us. In Rev. 4:11 we are told that 
God is worthy to receive glory, honor, and power; for 
he has created all things, and for* his pleasure they 
were created. As we are the workmanship of 
his hands, we are included in what should give him 
pleasure. So now as he is an almighty, an all-wise, 
and an all-good God we can see how great is our 
mission. As one who is good must delight in the 
good, it is necessary that man should be good, to 
please God. 

If we read the account of the creation, we see that 
man was placed above the earthly creation. The 
ground was his to till, the herbs were his for food, the 
animals were given him to name and to use for dif- 
ferent purposes. The sun and moon were to give 
light, heat, and fruitful seasons; and to speak, in 
unison with the rest of creation, of the great and lov- 
ing Creator. 

Again, remembering the creation, we find man was 
made in the image of God, who " breathed into his 
nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living 
soul." As God is a Spirit, and " a Spirit hath not 
flesh and bones/' it could not be that man was made 



KELIG.IOX TRUE AXD FALSE, 281 

in outward appearance like God; so the image must be 
in something else. Man could be made in the image 
of God in purity, and we find this is what was meant; 
for the plan of redemption brings him back to purity 
and to God. As he is in the image of God and a liv- 
ing soul, man is a much higher being than any of the 
others created; even if they had equal intelligence, 
which they have not. 

God placed man in a beautiful garden, and gave 
him instruction regarding the fruit therein. There 
was one tree of which he was not to eat, but all the 
rest were for his use. There are two great powers 
in this world — one is good, the other is evil. God 
stands for the good, and the Devil for the evil. When 
God gave instruction to man not to eat of that fruit, 
it was good that he should not. He was a living 
soul in purity, and if he would eat of that tree (the 
knowledge of good and evil), he would become re- 
sponsible for the evil. In partaking of the forbidden 
fruit he disobeyed a righteous God, partook of evil, 
and became inroure and a transgressor of right. A 
punishment followed; for the decree of righteousness 
was, " In the dav thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely 
die." As it was not an instant, literal death, it must 
have been a spiritual one, according to the scripture 
" The soul that sinneth, it shall die." What an awful 
fall! from purity to sinfulness, from a perfect man to 
an unholy one, from one who had never partaken of 
evil to one who now knew its exceeding sinfulness 
in the eyes of an all-wise, almighty God. 



282 mothers' counsel to their sons, ] 

We see also that the Devil in the form of a serpent 
deceived Eve, until she believed him rather than God; 
but she found out when too late what a sad mistake 
she had made in so doing. Many are to-day doing the 
same thing — heeding the sly, subtle words of evil 
rather than the precious words of truth. May the 
Lord help you to see how very necessary it is that each 
of you love the right and hate the wrong. 

Because of this great fall of our first parents all 
their descendants have been born impure in heart. 
They have inherited the fallen nature, or inclination 
to evil. This was a great misfortune, starting the 
whole human race on the way to eternal death. But 
God, in love and mercy, provided a plan to save 
humanity from such a sad state. 

As the result of doing evil is death of the soul, 
God's plan was to provide a Savior who should suffer 
death for every man and make him free from the 
result of his wrong-doing ; that is, make the soul that 
was dead in sin again alive in righteousness. Let us 
illustrate this point so you will all remember it for 
your good. You have no doubt seen a dead person, 
and know what a great difference there is between the 
dead and the living. The dead are helpless; they 
cannot move, speak, or use any of the powers of a 
living person. Should some one try to make a dead 
man stand upon his feet, he would have to be propped 
up from every side. And should one try to make 
him move, he would only do so as far as he was made 
to. This was very clearly demonstrated to us a few 



RELIG.I0X TRUE AND FALSE. 283 

years ago by a little home incident. The children had 
a pet cat. She had never had a family of her own; 
so she one day innocently stole another cat's kittens, 
which she tended with the utmost care; but not being 
able to supply them with their natural food, they soon 
died. Her grief was pitiful to witness; she would 
rub them, turn them over, lick them long and 
tenderly, move them about with her feet, try to give 
them food, and whine and cry so piteously that we all 
felt very sorry for her. When the last one died, she 
carried it to us and laid it at our feet, and' went 
through all her endeavors to make it alive ; every few 
seconds looking at us so pleadingly, as though she 
thought we might help her in her loving efforts. We 
expressed our sympathy to her as best we could, and 
tried to show her that we could not help her bring 
it to life; and then we gave it decent burial before 
her eyes, to try to help her to understand that the 
principle of life was gone and could not return, no 
matter how much we wished for it. 

How often has the human heart been wounded 
almost to death by the loss of loved ones, and a most 
passionate longing has arisen therein to woo the dear 
ones back to life; and if intensest longing, ceaseless 
caresses, and sweetest of names could have done so, 
not many would be lying in the cold and silent grave. 
If the death of the body is so great an event when 
the length of days is numbered at threescore years 
and ten, what must be the great reality when a 
precious immortal soul dies to purity and loses its 



284 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

spiritual life? Men may weep over the death of the 
body, but the great God weeps over the death of the 
soul; the hearts of loved ones are wrung with anguish 
over the loss of natural life, but the gracious Savior, 
the angels of heaven, and the Holy Spirit grieve in 
divine sorrow over the soul's eternal death. 

Dear boys, can you now see that when a man sins, 
chooses evil instead of good, and the life of the soul 
departs, nothing he can do of himself can bring it 
back? He is in a hopeless condition, unless some 
greater power can again restore the life back to the 
dead soul. This is what God intended to do when he 
promised that the seed of the woman (Christ Jesus) 
should bruise Satan's head. This also was what was 
meant when God said to Abraham, " In thy seed 
[Christ] shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." 
— Gen. 22:18. And this was God's purpose. "When 
the fullness of the time was come God sent forth his 
Son, made of a woman, made under the law to re- 
deem them that were under the law, that we might 
receive the adoption of sons." God wanted to redeem 
(or buy back) fallen man to Ms lost purity, and restore 
life to dead souls. Only in permitting the penalty 
for sin to fall upon some one else, could justice be 
sustained in mercy. Let us illustrate this. 

Here is a person who has disobeyed the laws of the 
land and has killed a fellow man. The penalty 
therefor is death upon the scaffold, and the justice of 
the law can only be sustained by its enforcement. The 
man has a sick wife and helpless children, and his 



EELIGJOX TRUE AXD FALSE. 285 

brother's heart is moved in compassion; and as he sees 
the criminal is truly repentant and would not do the 
like again and he knows more of the extenuating 
circumstances of the case, and remembers his brother's 
extreme kindness to himself when in trouble, he pro- 
poses to take his place and suffer in his stead. This is 
permitted, and the innocent suffers death for the 
guilty. The price has been paid, the offender is free 
— the sacrifice has been made, the man is redeemed 
unto life. 

^Nothing could restore to life dead souls but for 
some one to take their penalty, and suffer death for 
their redemption. This God did when he sent his 
only begotten Son into this world to take upon him 
the form of a man, and suffer the ignominious death 
upon the cross. " He tasted death for every man." 
Thus full redemption was bought for every man; and 
God designs that every one should enjoy his presence 
in glory eternally. The plan is perfect, the whole 
world of mankind is free as far as the plan of re- 
demption is concerned. 

Let us remember again our illustration concerning 
the condemned man and his brother. Suppose when 
the brother proposed to suffer in his stead, that the 
convict did not believe him, and " did not think it 
was true/' or was " too simple " or " something or 
other/' When he sees his brother bound, led forth 
to death, and then the jailer leads him to the prison 
door and tells him he is free, if he still is doubtful 
and does not take his freedom, you would consider 



286 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

him unworthy of the sacrifice that had been made, 
and that he held his liberty at little value, and you 
would think him " a very foolish fellow." And so 
he would be — his liberty was bought at a great price, 
and is worthy to be accepted gladly. 

So it is, dear boys, in regard to spiritual life. The 
price was paid that makes all souls alive in Christ 
Jesus, but they can only have it as they receive it by 
faith. They are told they are free; they are urged 
to take their freedom; but they hesitate to take it. 
Do they value it aright? Ah, no! they are not worthy 
of it; but mercy pleads, the love of God draws them, 
and some yield and prove the truth that the precious 
blood of Jesus cleanses from all sin, and redeems the 
soul back to God in purity. 

"Wonderful! wonderful I surely thou art a God of 
love, mercy, and justice. Man might be deficient and 
overlook one of these and conceive of different plans, 
but the true, all-wise, almighty God must combine 
the three, for which our hearts should give him 
praise. We are sure if your hearts and minds have 
followed us through this subject, you must be con- 
vinced of the reality of the religion of Jesus Christ. 

There are some, however, that are skeptical regard- 
ing what they cannot investigate with their natural 
senses; therefore they sometimes consider this religion 
" too superstitious." They do not discern the differ- 
ence between faith and imagination. Faith is simple 
trust; if our judgment is convinced of truth, it is easy 
to believe it. Whereas, imagination is something un- 



KELIGJOX TRUE AXD FALSE. 287 

real that one may conjure up without any effort of the 
reasoning powers, and which the mind retains regard- 
less of judgment. Eaith has something to rest upon, 
while imagination has not. Some people are more 
imaginative than others, and let their mind drift 
into any channel it wills, without restraint of reason 
or justice, and then accept as true their various 
thoughts and suggestions. This gives room for many 
false ideas to arise, which are often attached to relig- 
ion and make its presentation very unreal and un- 
reasonable to those w T ho weigh everything carefully. 
So we see the need of carefulness in receiving or 
not receiving different teachings. It is very strange 
how wise, thinking beings will allow false and very 
harmful teachings to be received as religion. This 
brings to mind an expression heard somewhere, 
" People love to be humbugged," and it seems as 
though it is true at first thought regarding spiritual 
things; but when we consider it more carefully, w T e 
see it is because they do not properly consider those 
things pertaining to eternal life and happiness, but 
think because " there is the mvsterious in religion it 
is unnecessary to try to understand it/* and " one 
might as w r ell believe one thing as another." This 
is unwise. There are mysteries in nature — some 
things that are very strange, and which we cannot 
" reason out " but must admit their existence and 
reason around the facts. For instance, we cannot 
comprehend the power of the earth to afford different 
substances for the growth of different kinds of vege- 



288 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

tatiom Nor can we know why it is necessary to have 
heat, moisture, and sunshine to make plants grow, 
yet we know it is true, and when we plant them we 
plan that they shall have what they need as far as 
we are able to provide it. 

We may not understand all the " whys and where- 
fores " in the religion of Jesus, but we can plainly 
see the facts and comprehend their importance, and 
leave the rest unto God to make clear to us in his 
own good time. Another thought is necessary also. 
The natural man cannot understand spiritual things 
as fully as those who* have become spiritual through 
the reception of life to the soul. 

You know there are often those among you who 
make sport of religion, and deride certain teachings 
because they seem foolish to them. But just remem- 
ber for your own good that when they are so doing 
they are simply fulfilling the scripture : "The preach- 
ing of the gospel is to them that perish foolishness, but 
to those who are saved it is the power of God." It 
shows a great weakness in people to deride what they 
do not comprehend. 

It is only natural after the lapse of 1900 years that 
the religion of Jesus should have attached to it in 
various ways in the minds of many, such things as do 
not recommend it to their confidence; but let each 
one throw down all past teachings and come to the 
Bible for instruction, and receive the precious truths 
in an actual experience of life in the soul, and these 
false ideas and notions will flee away and the true 



EELIGJOK — TBUE AND FALSE. 289 

will stand out in bold relief as the most beautiful and 
perfect religion that could be conceived; because 
God's thoughts are far above man's thoughts. 

The false religions 'because they are the thoughts 
of man are found to be far below the true. They 
are the conceptions of hearts filled with sin, and their 
sensual joys, and their promises of future happiness 
must partake of that fallen nature. One of them 
permits its believers to live in sin, do very many 
wicked things, live most ungodly lives; and then oc- 
casionally confess these sins to a man, who gives them 
some penance to perform to make their forgiveness 
sure with God. Also, the regulations of this religion 
permit such arrangements as lead to the most de- 
praved and licentious transactions. 

Other religions promise a future of sensuality to 
the faithful adherents, because their conception of 
enjoyment rises no higher than their depraved hearts. 
Idolatrous superstitions and worships attract many 
people by their fanciful and earthly devotions. Some 
of the worshipers are very devoted and zealous and 
undergo great hardships and privations to gain the 
favor of their gods, as they imagine, when we know 
that "an idol is nothing" but the work of man's 
hands. There is also the worship of natural objects, 
as the sun, moon, stars, and animals. It is a great 
pity that man does not more perfectly " seek after 
God." These false religions cannot satisfy the soul, 
and many of their teachings are repulsive to the better 
part of our human nature. Let us remember again 



290 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

that God speaks to every individual through the 
wonders of creation and the longings of the soul; so 
every one is without excuse. The heathen are a law 
unto themselves, their conscience accusing or excus- 
ing them. It is the precious privilege of man to carry 
the good news of salvation in Jesus to all these idola- 
trous nations, for their present and eternal good. 
"What must be the sad state of those who turn from 
the true unto the false because of self-will or desire! 
All around us, even in what are called Christian 
lands, are forms of worship that partake of heathen 
idolatry. 

"We realize that God wants us to warn the boys 
from entering the doors of deception and evil through 
what seems to many very attractive, because of its 
innocent appearance and the promise of good. Every 
city, town, and village has as many different lodges 
as it can support. These claim to give special bene- 
fits to their members. These benefits with few 
exceptions are very small compared to the money 
and time invested therein, and are such as but few 
have need of — especially if Christians. We refer to 
the promises of assistance in times of sickness; for 
Christians will care for the sick according to the 
scriptures without any reward. The time, money, 
and effort used to sustain the lodges is very great, and 
the good done among the sick and needy is almost 
imperceptible. The lodge spirit of charity is very far 
from the Bible standard, which is to do good unto 
all men as we have opportunity. If the money, time 



EELIGJOX TRUE AND FALSE. 291 

and effort employed in lodge work were applied di- 
rectly to the relief of the sick and needy, there would 
certainly be much more good accomplished. If a 
young man will apply himself to labors of love and 
kindness without desire for reward, he makes provi- 
sion for himself in the hearts of others and in the 
mercy of God. Oftentimes sickness is permitted to 
come upon us to make us more sympathetic toward 
others, and we should do good, hoping for nothing 
again. Lodge charity is no charity; for in most cases 
it is more than paid for in lodge dues and service, 
and it is so considered by the members. Often have 
we heard the remark made by the sick, " The lodge 
ought to help me; for I have done more for it than 
it has for me." Often our hearts have been saddened 
to think how much more good would be accomplished 
if what societies require for their existence were used 
for the spread of the gospel of salvation. 

There is another sad feature of societv and lodge 
work. Many professing Christians will be more 
zealous for lodge obligations than for religious service, 
while others claim that " the lodge is good enough 
religion for them;" and thus precious souls are being 
destroyed through this lodge influence. 

Again, some of the lodges have forms of worship; 
and while they lay claim to the knowledge and wor- 
ship of God, their service is so mixed with idola- 
trous performances and beliefs that it is more heathen- 
ish than Christian, and meets the censure of God in 
dishonoring his holy name and gospel truth' They 



292 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

leave out the name of Jesus our Redeemer, and yet 
profess to prepare men for the " Grand Lodge above/' 
which is, to say the least, one of the worst forms of 
sacrilege; for " there is no other name given under 
heaven or among men whereby we must be saved." 

Lodges are directly disobedient to the teachings of 
the gospel. We are told to "swear not at at all; neither 
by heaven; for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, 
for it is his footstool; neither by Jerusalem, for it is 
the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear 
by thy head, because thou canst not make one 
hair white or black. But let your communication 
be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than 
these cometh of evil." 

All the lodges we have heard of have some form of 
oath to administer to the candidates, and the higher 
the lodge the greater and more terrible are the oaths, 
and penalties for the revelation of their secrets 
(which are no secrets, since they have been revealed). 
This alone should deter any one from entering their 
portals; but this is not all; the lot falls upon some 
of the members to fulfill these terrible penalties upon 
those who break their oaths, to reveal, for others' good, 
the workings of lodgism, which is the most brutal 
murder minds can conceive. The deatli of men who 
have made revelations, and the sworn statement of 
those who have done the terrible deed, and the sly 
and cunning threatenings of others have established 
the fact beyond doubt. In coming to Jesus for sal- 
vation these awful things have had to be acknowl- 



RELIGION TEUE AKD FALSE. 293 

edged and forsaken in order to obtain forgiveness 
from God. The administration of tliese awful oaths, 
the contemplation of their fulfillment, and the secret 
admission that it is necessary, to enforce the lod^e 
regulations, have a very strong tendency to produce 
hard-heartedness and to cause men to look upon such 
things with complacency instead of with horror. So 
Ave are not surprised that lodge members count the 
opposers of lodgism as " fanatical." You cannot 
touch a lodge man in a more tender spot than to 
speak against his lodge — it becomes his idol. 

The principle of lodgism is directly antagonistic 
to a republican form of government; for they run 
politics for their own advantage, whenever possible. 
Many of the wisest and strongest statesmen have 
raised their voices in opposition thereto, because of 
the tendency to weaken the nation bv the defeat of 
justice and mercy. 

There is no greater hindrance to the administra- 
tion of personal justice than the power wielded in the 
lod^e bv members defending one another " in all 
cases, not excepting treason and murder." Often 
has the verdict of the jury been changed bv the en- 
deavors of a brother lod^e man, and the innocent 
have suffered in the defeat of justice. This power 
extends to religious organizations as well as to com- 
mercial circles — favoritism and promotion depend 
upon bring a member of some lodge, and those who 
oppose it are persecuted and belittled a- far as p 
Bible. While speaking to a minister who claimed to 



294 mothers' counsel to their sons, 

preach the gospel, he said a preacher who was not a 
lodge man stood no chance of obtaining good posi- 
tions, but was sent to the inferior or backwoods sta- 
tions. A politician admitted that much of the politi- 
cal wire-pulling was done in the secret lodge room. 
Many of the fair, strong, young men who have gone 
down under the curse of intemperance took their first 
glasses of strong drink at the lodge meeting or supper 
or banquet. Many a mother, wife, sister, or daughter 
has arisen after the midnight hour to receive from 
the lodge an inebriate loved one, and many a home 
has sorrowed because " lodge meeting " came nearly 
every night in the week, and gave the home circle 
little opportunity to enjoy the society of fathers, 
husbands, brothers, and sons. 

Surely then, we mothers have a right to cry out 
against the lodge that would usurp our place in the 
hearts who have promised to " love and cherish." 
Sometimes the excuse is made that they entered the 
lodge for the protection of and provision for loved 
ones, " in case of death removing the support and 
stay of future years." Those who trust in God need 
no such provision; for he careth for the fatherless 
and the widow. Should any one "do evil that good 
may come " ? The idea of a man being under obli- 
gation to provide for the future of his family, after 
his death, is absurd, and savors of the strongest un- 
belief. The desire to do so has placed " burdens 
grievous to be borne " upon many frail shoulders, 
and has hastened them to the tomb, or has induced 



RELIGJON TRUE AND FALSE. 295 

them to enter secret lodges for future benefits, or to 
insure their lives for the same purpose. If a man 
uses the ability and wisdom he has, in business effort, 
and then cares for his body properly and trusts God 
for health and prolonged life for his family's good, 
he has done ail that is necessary, and escapes many 
hurtful lusts and trying circumstances. 

Many of the young enter these institutions without 
examination and with the desire to use them inno- 
cently for their advancement in business matters. 
Others think they will get much for little by paying 
small dues, and then receive a large amount to settle 
upon some one or more. This often fails to work as 
planned, and sometimes is the cause of death and 
destruction through evil desire when death brings 
more than life. It is not right to place this tempta- 
tion before any one, no matter how pure and strong. 

dear boys, will you not more carefully consider 
these things and avoid all that would have a tendency 
toward evil in any direction? The word of God 
speaks plainly to those who would be Christians: 
" Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbe- 
lievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with 
unrighteousness? and what communion hath light 
with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with 
Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an 
infidel? and what agreement hath the temple of God 
with idols? * # * TTherefore come out from 
among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and 
touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 1 ' 



296 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

Here we see that those who serve God are forbidden 
to be unequally yoked together with the wicked. 
Now, it is clear that in every lodge there are un- 
believers, unsaved, wicked men, who know not God 
and who will not serve him. Then how would it be 
possible to be in a lodge without disobeying this 
scripture? 

The church of God must fearlessly proclaim the 
whole truth of the gospel against everything sinful. 
As it does so, and does not yield to the seducing and 
overpowering influence of wicked men and evil 
works, he who would serve God faithfully and gain 
the benefits of his salvation must square his life 
by the gospel and forsake every man-made institution 
of sin. It is natural for men to want to receive the 
benefits of the religion of Jesus, while clinging close 
to the things that delight the natural heart. This is 
why there are so many close counterfeits of the true 
religion. Often only those who live the closest to 
God and trust him for wisdom can discern between 
the true and the false. We cannot mingle the two 
together — it is take the true and discard the false or 
take the false and discard the true. Which shall it 
be for you? We cannot serve God and be partakers 
of the Lord's table and the table of devils, but must 
choose this day whom we will serve. €C If God is 
God, serve him; if Baal, serve him." 

Now, dear boys, as we know you are concerned 
about these things, we have desired to present the 
truth so as to win you to the service of God, remem- 



RELIGION TRUE AND FALSE. 297 

bering this scripture : " What shall it profit a man, 
if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own 
soul." May each dear son be awakened to examine 
well the path of his feet and incline them unto wis- 
dom's ways and to the living God. 



SALVATION IN JESUS. 



In connection with "religion true" we must dwell 
upon this salvation that is found in Jesus our Savior. 
You remember man's hopeless condition after his 
fall into sin, and how God moved with compassion 
promised to provide a Savior to redeem from that sor- 
rowful state of soul-death, and as many of you have 
heard of the birth of Jesus, we will only state it 
briefly, and you may all read the exact account in 
the Bible in the Gospels. 

After God had made the promise of a Redeemer 
for fallen man, all who knew God and trusted in 
him looked forward to Christ's coming as the great 
event in the history of man; and those who trusted 
and obeyed God's direct commands were counted 
righteous; for their " faith was counted unto them 
for righteousness." Their souls were alive through 
the atonement that should be made. They walked 
and talked with God, and received his instruction 
and blessing. Many prophecies concerning Christ 
were given to them, which were all fulfilled at the 
proper time. Our Savior came from the courts of 
heaven and took upon him the form of a man, that 
he might suffer man's trials, endure his temptations, 

298 



SALVATION IN JESUS. 299 

and conquer his foe, the Devil, who had so deceived 
and injured him through his fall into sin. Xothing 
more beautiful can be imagined than his humble 
birth and lowly life which he lived in this world, and 
through his death and suffering brought again 
spiritual life to the souls of men. 

The immortal part of man, the soul, must have an 
existence somewhere throughout all eternity. In the 
pure state in which he was created that existence 
would have been with God in eternal glory in heaven; 
but when his purity was lost in partaking of evil, 
then that existence must be in the opposite — even 
with the Devil in eternal death in his abode, which 
is hell, which was prepared for the Devil and his 
angels (those who serve him). When the redemp- 
tion was made that bought man back to purity of 
soul, it also restored him to all that was lost — eternal 
life in heaven with God. And while we should 
desire purity more than all else, we may look forward 
to eternity in glory as a very precious privilege. Some 
seem more anxious to get to heaven than to be pure 
in this life and honor God by a holy walk and con- 
versation. This ought not to be; for we should love 
God more than to seek only for our own good. Many 
souls went down to eternal death because they would 
not heed the voice of God and look forward to the 
atonement of Christ for the sin of the world; and 
some are doing the same thing now; because they 
will not heed the instruction, and believe that all 
may have life through Jesus the Savior, 



300 MOTHEBS ? COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

Eor three years before his death Jesus preached 
the gospel of the kingdom, and offered salvation from 
sin to every one who would receive the atonement for 
sin through faith in him as the Savior. Many be- 
lieved on him as the Redeemer, and obeyed his 
teaching by repenting of and forsaking their sins, and 
trusting him for spiritual life. He sent out preachers 
who went into every city preaching the good news of 
salvation in Jesus, and all who believed it received 
its fulfillment in life to the soul and health to the 
body; for " he healed all manner of sickness and 
disease among the people; for God was with him in 
power, working wonders in the sight of men." Not- 
withstanding all this, men hated, rejected, and perse- 
cuted him, and were ready to destroy him, because 
the truth upset their false religions and reproved 
them for sin and iniquity; because their deeds were 
evil, and his good and pure. The wicked cruelty 
of men was unable to do its pleasure until Jesus said, 
" The hour is come when the Son of man must be 
betrayed into the hands of men." " Then laid they 
their hands upon him," and hasted him away to 
mock trial and to cruel crucifixion — the most solemn 
and sublime hour in the history of the world. The 
" King of kings " and the " Lord of lords " hanging 
between earth and heaven to make a way into its 
celestial portals for poor fallen man ! And whije they 
reviled and derided the Son of God, the earth was 
darkened — the sun hid his face in shame — the rocks 
rent, the earth quaked, the graves were opened, and 



SALVATION IN JESUS. 301 

the veil of the temple was rent in twain from top to 
bottom, revealing to the world that a mighty work 
had been wrought for man. 

O ye faithless ones! what more could the God of 
heaven have done to prove his love and faithfulness 
to you, in that wonderful hour of Christ's humilia- 
tion and death? Stand still, dear ones! look upon 
the scene, let vour hearts and minds take it all in and 
retain it there, until it shall melt you into tears, into 
submission and humbleness, and into strongest belief 
of the truth, and then into salvation in Jesus. Then 
will vou knoiv that " his name is Jesus because he 
saves his people from their sins." 

After his sufferings and death upon the cross he 
was taken and laid in a new tomb hewed in a rock, 
and a great stone was placed at the door and sealed 
with the king's seal, and guarded by the soldiers. 
On the third day he triumphed over death and the 
grave, and " rose from the dead/' according to the 
prophecies. The rocks could not hold him; the 
king's seal could not prevent him; and the soldiers 
could not restrain him! " Praise his name, all to 
people!" "Rejoice with the voice of triumph." 
Our God reigneth! Though it seemed to the scorners 
that they had demolished every claim to the divinity 
of Christ by placing him upon the cross, yet they 
were only fulfilling the scriptures and giving him 
the opportunity to bring to naught the reasonings of 
men, and prove himself the very Christ. So now the 
scoffers may reject his atonement and scorn his sal- 



302 mothers' counsel to theib sons. 

vation from sin, but the time will come at no very dis- 
tant day when he will come in all his glory, with the 
holy angels with him, and " then shall every knee 
bow unto the Lord and every tongue confess unto 
God." After his resurrection he appeared to his 
disciples and they were convinced of his resurrection 
and testified to it even unto their enemies. Forty 
days he tarried with them, and as they were together 
without the city he was parted from them and went 
unto his Father — even unto God. The clouds re- 
ceived him out of their sight, and they returned 
unto Jerusalem and were continually in the temple 
praising and blessing God. 

As we contemplate the atonement of Christ that 
brings man back to the state of purity from which he 
fell, through the subtlety of Satan, our hearts should 
be moved with love and gratitude, and we should 
desire him as a friend and companion all through our 
earthly pilgrimage. When we were talking to you 
upon companionship we advised you to choose for 
friends those who could help you upward and forward 
to true manhood. If it is necessary to have friends 
while in this world, no one can help us so much and 
be so true and steadfast as our Savior. And this is 
what he desires to be unto us: one who loves, saves 
from sin, gives life, comfort, strengthens, bears 
burdens, sustains, and takes home to glory. Thus 
would he be more than all unto us. " Companion- 
ship with Jesus here, makes life with bliss replete." 
There is nothing can help our sons to true manhood 



SALVATION IN JESUS. 303 

faster and more perfectly than acquaintance with the 
Lord our Redeemer; because his salvation begins at 
the root of the trouble and makes the heart pure, and 
thus the life becomes pure and Christlike. The in- 
dividual is raised up from the earthly to the heavenly. 
His heart being pure and having heavenly aspira- 
tions, his desires are higher; his mind becomes more 
active and dwells upon godly wisdom, applying it to 
his life until he is able to walk in the footsteps of 
Jesus, who did no sin neither was guile found in his 
mouth. 

ISTow we hope you all will inquire as others have 
done, " What must I do to be saved? " Tes, we 
hope and pray that you may realize your need of a 
Savior, and come to him that your souls may be made 
alive. It is very sad to think that any of you are 
going about with souls that are abiding in spiritual 
death, when a loving friend is near to give you life. 
Let us think of it real soberly and use an illustration 
to make it forcible to our souls. Here is one of you 
who has lost the use of a right arm. Another has 
no use of one of his feet, and still another has been 
made blind, while a fourth has become deaf and 
dumb. How sad to see you thus disabled! Do you 
think your parents would spare any expense to give 
you the right use of your members that are dead to 
you? Ah, no! How many parents have labored, 
hoped, saved, and prayed, that they might afford the 
best medical skill in the hope of restoring to their 
children the use of their different members that have 



304 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

been diseased and helpless! Sometimes they have 
succeeded and sometimes they have failed. And 
whichever way it turned, their hearts were moved 
with the strongest emotions toward their dear 
children, in joy or sorrow. Here are several boys 
who through accident or sinful practice have lost the 
right use of their minds. What grief rests upon the 
parents! Dearly as they love their children, they 
w r ould sooner have seen them laid in the silent tomb, 
or would willingly have borne any amount of suffer- 
ing or privation; but here is their trouble and little 
can be done. Day after day and year after year they 
must bear their sorrow and see their children helpless 
as babes. Oh, yes! it is a dreadful thing to have 
dead members as portions of a living body, and more 
dreadful to have dead minds incapable of compre- 
hending life; but more awful than all this, is it to 
have souls dead in sin — away from God — and not 
realize the sad state they are in, and so make no effort 
for their good. 

Awaken, boys, and see your need; because others 
are careless about their souls is no reason you should 
be. You ought not to drift along just because others 
do. In fact that is one of the Devil's ways to destroy 
precious souls. Because others are indifferent to their 
eternal good the enemy suggests, " Eeligion cannot 
be true, because many do not heed it." You know, 
boys, there are plenty of things you know are true 
that many people do not heed. You know it is true 
that an education is good; but some refuse it, and 



SALVATION IX JESUS. 305 

" have no use for it," saying, " It is foolishness/' and 
" waste of time/' and so on. You know it is true that 
intemperance unfits man for the best of life, and yet 
many do not believe it, and fill drunkards' graves. 
Their doing so does not prove the facts untrue, but 
their lack of wisdom. You see we must not follow 
others to do evil. It is right to consider the welfare 
of the soul, and we should do it regardless of what 
others do. If we wait to decide what is right, true, 
or wise, until others agree upon it, then we mil wait 
forever. We ought to make a wise decision on every 
vital question, in order to help others. The more we 
try to shirk the responsibility of making a decision 
the more responsible we become. In the salvation 
of the soul we may know the truth; for it makes us 
free from sin. It simply proves true, the same as two 
and two are four. 

"Well," some of you say, " If I knew it was true, 
I would seek for it, but it seems so unreal and so far 
away that it seems I cannot be earnest enough about 
it." Yes, that is often the reason precious souls go on 
year after year indifferently; they are waiting for 
something wonderful to happen to make them put 
forth an effort to obtain eternal life. Oh, how 
strangely we do act sometimes! Did you ever get 
what you most needed or desired without putting forth 
an effort to obtain it? Anything that is worth having 
is worth striving after. The more we desire some- 
thing the more apt we arc to strive for it earnestly. 
Some one says, " I thought it was a gift from God." 



306 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

It is, dear boy; but we must be in condition to receive 
it — not that we can make ourselves worthy of it, or 
in any way make our hearts better; but we must come 
in God's way so we can trust for it. 

"Now, we believe some are really interested in know- 
ing how to obtain the salvation of their souls; so we 
are going to give a few lessons, taking this theme step 
by step. Our next subject will be Conviction; as it 
is the first step. Let every one who knows he ought 
to be a Christian begin to study his Bible. Please 
read all the scriptures you can find on sin, and the 
story of Jesus' life and death. 



Salvation in Jesus ! 

Then how can you doubt it ? 
Oh, honor his name ! 

And think much about it. 

Salvation in Jesus ! 

It sounds sweet and holy ; 
So humble yourself, 

And come meek and lowly. 

Salvation in Jesus ! 

We know you believe it ; 
Then open your heart, 

And gladly receive it. 

Salvation in Jesus ! 

You say you " can't doubt it ;" 
Then praise his dear name ! 

We'll sing it and shout it. 



SALVATION ra JESUS. 307 

Salvation in Jesus ! 

You now ' ' do believe it ;" 
You yield and you trust, 

And fully receive it. 

Salvation in Jesus ! 

So now you * have found it;" 
Just_prai.se the dear Lord, 
And gladly resound it. 

Salvation in Jesus ! 

How perfect its fitness ; 
In love, and in truth, 

May each be a witness 5 



CONVICTION. 



Eveky individual has a standard of right by which 
he judges the actions of men, and is quick to approve 
or disapprove — often without due consideration. This 
standard of right is modified generally by circum- 
stances and influences of life, although it is often 
much higher than individual surroundings. 

This voice from within is known as conscience, and 
is by many considered the rule of action in all life's 
transactions. "While the world would be much better 
if every one did as well as his conscience dictates, yet 
as conscience is subject to influence and education, it 
is not to be depended upon as a guide in all circum- 
stances. 

Generally the conscience of those who have had 
little or no moral teaching is much below that of 
others who have been w T ell instructed in moral prin- 
ciples. Here also the influence of parentage is very 
great. Parents who do not heed their conscience to 
do right as far as they know, but who " follow their 
inclinations/' or " let their natural disposition run 
away with their judgment," generally have children 
who are low in conscience, and follow in the way of 
all evil. For the sake of our loved ones, if for noth- 

308 



conviction. 309 

ing else, each individual should live upright and after 
the dictates of his conscience, if not after the teach- 
ings of Christ. 

Let us illustrate this. Here are two boys in a large 
family of children, who were born under apparently 
the same circumstances. The parents are morally 
good people, who give clear moral teaching to their 
children. These two boys, being the oldest in the 
family, are most of the time under their fathers care, 
and he instructs "William, the older, to " give up to 
brother, as he is younger;" and as "William begins 
early to find pleasure in yielding his wishes to others, 
he readily complies, and the younger child, George, 
soon looks upon it as his right to have his own way. 
This encourages selfishness, and soon what he feels 
lilce doing is what he does, regardless of others' desires 
and rights, and thus, his evil nature is encouraged and 
the voice of conscience is not heeded. 

William listens to instruction, forms decisions for 
right principles, and has a hatred of everything false 
and impure, and every necessity for decision in right 
and wrong appeals directly to his conscience, and he 
says, " I believe this is right, so I'll stand for it." 

While George continues to walk after his own de- 
sires, his brother's better life compels him to see that 
lie "ought to live better;" and while he does not yield 
to its dictates, his conscience reproves him for his low 
life. Though he may reason himself into the belief 
that his ways are worldly-wise, yet the voice of con- 
science rebels against it; so really he is not satisfied 



310 MOTHERS 7 COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

with himself, and cannot help being somewhat un- 
happy. If he fights against his conscience and 
forcibly resists it, there may settle upon him an indif- 
ference and hardness that is called ease of conscience; 
which seldom " asserts its right to be heard " or to 
his consideration. This is very dangerous ground. 

ISTo one is wise in living below his conscience, or in 
considering it a safe guide of action in all circum- 
stances. If we are uncertain as to our course of duty, 
the only safe and sure guide is the Bible. For in- 
stance, it has become popular teaching, among moral 
and religious people, that when a married couple can- 
not live pleasantly and peacefully together they may 
separate, procure a divorce, and marry again. The 
Bible says that Moses suffered people because 
of the hardness of their hearts, to write a bill of 
divorcement and to put away their wives but that from 
the beginning it was not so." Further teaching is 
stronger even than this; for if divorcement is obtained, 
it causes one or more to live in adultery by recogniz- 
ing the marriage of those divorced, as the Bible does 
not. Many have lived moral and religious lives, but 
being ignorant of this higher standard of right, they 
were not condemned in conscience until the standard 
of truth was raised. So you see our only safe guide 
is the Bible, and in order to understand it we need to 
be spiritual by having the salvation of Jesus. 

Besides our conscience strivings we have the Spirit 
of God troubling us on account of our sins. If it is 
best and necessary to heed the voice of conscience, it 



CONVICTION. 311 

is better and far more necessary to listen to the Spirit 
of God, who comes to us in our better moments with 
wooing tenderness trying to draw us unto God in love 
and mercy. Also, God speaks to us through his 
word, to show us how sinful we are. If we cannot 
realize the need of salvation, Ave should study the 
Bible and let God tell us: " All ye, like sheep, have 
gone astray." " The heart is deceitful above all 
things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? ?: 
" If our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our 
heart," and condemns us also. 

You know, dear boys, that you do many things 
which you know are wrong — your conscience tells you 
so. The word of God tells you the same, and the 
Spirit of God pleads with you, saying, " Come unto 
me, all ye that are heavy laden;" and as you think 
of these things you know you do " feel real mean." 
Every time you have done wrong since you " knew 
right from wrong," you have stained your soul with 
sin and made yourself a transgressor against God. 
You were just as blamable as Adam and Eve when 
they disobeyed God by eating of the forbidden fruit; 
for you have disobeyed his holy commandments. 
Every time you gave way to such feelings as anger, 
hatred, selfishness, covetousness, pride, and selfwill, 
you were living after your evil nature and committed 
sin, and are accountable to God for each one. Oh, 
how many times each one of us has sinned, and how 
the sins pile up, and stand as mountains between tua 
and God! When we see this as we ought to see it. 



312 mothers' counsel to theie sons. 

there is a heavy burden upon us. We are convicted 
of sin. We realize God is displeased with us; and 
while he loves us, he cannot make our souls alive in 
righteousness until we give up all our sins. So the 
great responsibility lies with us. God is waiting — 
Jesus is ready — only we hesitate to give up sin. If 
we yield, we shall obtain salvation. If we do not, 
our hearts become harder and evil more pleasant, and 
God could in justice leave us to ourselves — lost. 

Boys, let us think more earnestly, and use our 
e very-day wisdom. Here is our nation; it makes 
laws by which each individual that lives therein must 
abide or be punished. This is right, you admit, and 
say quickly, " If any one does not like our laws, let 
him go somewhere else where he is better pleased." 
Suppose some people do not like our laws, but like our 
people, climate, and other things about our country, 
and are determined to live here, what must they do? 
You say, "If they want to live here, let them be subject 
to our laws, whether they like them or not." That is 
right, but suppose they come to stay, yet will not obey 
the laws? You say, " Then let them be punished; for 
our laws are good." That answer is right also. 

]STow, let us apply our lesson. There are two great 
spiritual kingdoms in the world — the kingdom of 
righteousness, with God as king; and the kingdom of 
evil, with the Devil as king. 

Each of these kingdoms has its laws, and each king 
would like to have all the inhabitants of the world 
dwell in his kingdom: "but people have their likes 



CONVICTION. 313 

and dislikes/' so some abide in one and some in the 
other. 

The kingdom of righteousness has a beautiful 
country, lovely future prospects, a pure people, and 
a holy King. In order to preserve this nation and 
sustain its standard of excellence it has some very 
strong and pure laws, that are unchangeable. The 
inhabitants of the other nation look upon our happi- 
ness and future prospects with longing desire, and 
they would like to enjoy them with us; but they do 
not like our laws — they look unwise and not right, 
etc. In their nation each one thinks he does as he 
pleases and is enjoying himself greatly, but every 
little while his pleasures are turned to sorrow; for the 
king's imps fall upon him, cruelly afflicting him — 
sometimes even unto death. 

The people are so blinded by their personal-liberty 
ideas that they think their ways will turn out all right 
after awhile, and they console themselves with the 
thought that they " have no such strict laws as that 
other nation." If we look carefully, we may see what 
they do not see. Their king says to them, "You 
may have your own way, do as you please.;" but to 
himself he says, " I will have my way whenever I 
want it and in the end" — and the end shall be de- 
struction. Whenever he thinks they are having too 
good a time he sends out his imps to draw his reins 
with the utmost cruelty. Whenever his subjects 
begin to long for the other country he spreads before 
them new attractions, which please for a time — but 



314 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

end in sorrow. Some of these people get tired of 
this kind of freedom, and finally see how their king 
is deceiving them, and through much effort cast off 
his yoke and flee to the other kingdom; and then they 
say, " Why, all the laws are just right — everything 
is agreeable." So they are well pleased to abide, and 
wonder how they could have been so deceived into the 
belief that there were no laws, and each was having 
Ms own way, when now they see so clearly that the 
laws of that land were Satan's own plans and desires 
for each one of them, which he fulfilled to his own 
satisfaction without their consent. 

Some of the loyal subjects in the kingdom of evil 
decide they will improve things, they will take some 
of the most agreeable laws from the kingdom of 
righteousness and unite them with their own desires to 
receive the future benefits of righteousness, and thus 
harmonize the two • kingdoms to suit themselves. 
They draw off to one side of Satan's kingdom — so 
close to the other that they seem to enjoy some of its 
prospects, and flatter themselves that they have 
"found an easy way to heaven." They are not in 
the kingdom of God, for they do not obey its laws; 
so they are still in the kingdom of Satan and will re- 
ceive his future prospects — eternal death. This little 
province is false Christianity" 

IsTow, remember your former answers and see where 
it will bring us. If the people of this little province 
do " not like our laws, let them go somewhere else." 
If individuals want the privileges of our nation, " let 



coKvicrioisr. 315 

them obey the laws whether they like them or not." 
" And if they will not keep them, let them be 
punished." 

Boys, this decision means everything to you. You 
must make decision in favor of one of these nations. 
Most of you are abiding in the kingdom of unright- 
eousness, and your king is the Devil, and he is deceiv- 
ing you with the idea that you are having a good time, 
when you are often most miserable. Your conscience, 
the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit are telling you 
that you are not acting Avisely, and you look over into 
the kingdom of righteousness and desire its favors 
and future prospects of heaven; but when you look 
to its laws and think you must give up sin and the 
pleasures of the world, you draw back, and say, " Oh, 
I believe it will all w T ork out right some way;" and so 
you stay in Satan's kingdom, and let him deceive and 
allure your precious souls to eternal destruction, and 
all because you do not like the laws of righteousness. 
Xow let vour own answers condemn vou. "If thev do 
not like our laws, let them go somewhere else," and 
give up all the bright prospects of eternal joys. But 
if you want the blessings of righteousness, then "obey 
the laws whether you like them or not." "And if 
you will not obey them, then let you be punished." 

" Why must one give up sin to be a Christian I ' 
Because sin is the transgression of the law of right- 
eousness. And you remember the first transgression 
was simply partaking of evil. If you could be saved 
without giving up sin, you would enter right into it 



316 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

again and be as bad as ever. But if you decide against 
evil and give it up entirely, then you will not expect 
to do evil, and salvation will keep you from it. 

Sin is not nice, sweet, pretty, or good; what do you 
want of it? Salvation is nice, it makes men and 
women nice in their behavior in every way; it is also 
pretty; nothing more lovely than salvation; and it 
" beautifies the meek:" it is good; for it makes all who 
receive it good. Then give up sin and take salvation 
full and free. 

Conviction is not a very agreeable feeling to any- 
body; for by nature we all like to think we are pretty 
good, and to have others believe the same; but there 
is nothing more necessary for our spiritual good than 
a real deep and thorough conviction of our sinfulness. 
Sometimes when God begins to reveal our hearts in 
their awful sinfulness we begin to shrink from it and 
compare ourselves with others who, we think, are " so 
much worse " that by the side of them " we are pretty 
good." It is not wise to do so; for we may grieve away 
the Holy Spirit and be left to our own goodness, which 
in the sight of God is " filthy rags." 

Every unsaved soul should encourage conviction by 
carefully considering all his sins and trying to see 
them as God does. Did you ever think as you " do 
some little meanness " how a Holy God looks upon it? 
You know it is mean, little, low, and indecent, even 
in the sight of moral men; and you know you do not 
measure to your standard of a man; but oh, how im- 
pure, unholy, degrading, contemptible, and defiling 



CONVICTION. 3 IT 

it appears in the sight of a holy and wise God no 
tongue can tell! but we may feel it, if we allow con- 
viction to run deep and plow up all the hardness with- 
in our stony hearts. 

I remember once " allowing my thoughts to run 
wild," and then awakening in horror to behold the 
awful sin that lay upon my soul. The sight of it 
caused the most intense agony, and when I thought 
how God looked upon it there seemed to be no life 
in me. My heart almost stopped its beating, and my 
soul could only moan, "O Lord, forgive! O Lord, 
have mercy, and blot out my sins and remember them 
no more forever! ' At first it seemed but one sin, 
but as I looked upon it I could see one great sin with 
a score clustered around it; and I did not wonder that 
one transgression was enough to sink the soul to 
eternal destruction. This caused such intense suffer- 
ing to my soul and body that my eyes became a foun- 
tain of tears and my voice one long, low moan of 
despair. The Lord of heaven and earth spoke in 
tenderest accents of love and mercy to my soul, as- 
suring me of his willingness to forgive and save. 
And as I received pardon by faith the sorrow and 
sighing fled away, and I was drawn nearer to God in 
true humility and self-abandonment than ever before, 
and then God flooded my soul with love, and gave me 
the joy of salvation. Oh, that every one of our sons 
might realize the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the 
joys of sins forgiven! 

We will give you several letters from those who 



318 MOTHEKS COUNSEL TO THEIK SONS. 

have forsaken sin to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. 
May you read them carefully and learn some pre- 
cious lessons that may help you to serve Satan no 
longer, but turn to the living and true God. 



Dear Boys: 

I believe God wants me to write my testimony and 
tell what he has done for me, to encourage others to 
seek him. 

When quite young, the power of evil fastened upon 
me in bad habits. Being ignorant of the result there- 
of, I continued therein a long time, until life became 
miserable indeed. It is true where the word of God 
says, " The way of the transgressor is hard." Oh, 
what a burden sin is! At times I would resolve to 
do better and quit my evil ways in my own strength, 
but it w T as only for a little season; all was in vain in 
that way, and the longer the habits continued the 
worse they became, until my whole body was wrecked, 
and my soul was in a lost condition. I would look 
back over my life and exclaim, " Oh, how worthless!" 
and then look into the future and see nothing but pain 
and death. I came to the point that I could see my- 
self as I really was — full of sin and wickedness. 
Something must be done. What could I do? Oh, 
how wretched I was ! Jesus said when here on earth, 
" Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, 
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, 
and learn of me, and ye shall find rest unto your 



CONVICTION". 319 

souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." 
—Matt. 11:28. 

Truly, I was heavy laden, and needed rest, and 
here was a promise of help. Was I too bad? In 
Luke 19:10 Jesus said, " The Son of man is come to 
seek and to save that which was lost." And Isaiah 
said, " Come iioav, and let us reason together, saith 
the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be 
as white as snow; though thev be red like crimson, 

7 CD a 7 

they shall be as wool.'' — Isa. 1:18. 

Again, in Eev. 22:17, it says: " "Whosoever will, 
let him take the water of life freely/' So I could 
but come to Jesus and give mvself as a servant of 
righteousness, and as I did so, God for Christ's sake 
forgave me my sins, and I found rest to mv burdened 
and sin-bound soul. Life had now strong future 
hope. Praise God for deliverance from my evil ways! 
for he changed my nature to serve him and walk in 
the paths of the righteous, which I found were 
"peace;" and I could live a pure, sinless life, in this 
world, and have a bright hope of the future. I cast 
all on Jesus, obey the word of God, and he does the 
keeping. He not only saves my soul, but heals my 
body, and I enjoy very good health, for which I praise 
him, as all glory belongs to him. 

I write these few lines with a deep sympathy for 
those in sin. especially those in bondage to evil habits 
as I was, and pray God to bless them to the good of 
many; for deliverance is free to all, for "whosoever 
will, may come. 



» 



320 MOTHERS 9 COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

Jesus came to save the lost and set the captive free, 
Will you let him set you free? 

Your loving brother, 

C. D. Orr. 



Dear Boys: 

It is with a heart filled with love and gratitude to 
the dear Lord that I write my testimony for his glory 
and your spiritual welfare. 

God for Christ's sake forgave my sins at the age of 
nineteen, and I was regenerated and received the wit- 
ness of the Spirit and could look up in confidence, 
crying, " Abba, Father." He saved me from gam- 
bling, card-playing, theater-going, tobacco-using, and a 
multitude of other sins. The desire for them is all 
gone, and God has kept me four years, and gives me 
abundance of grace to live pure and holy in this pres- 
ent evil w r orld. I have had precious victory, but must 
confess that it has taken much secret prayer, self- 
denial, and strict obedience to the word of God; for 
this is the only ground upon which he has promised 
to keep us. s 

It is with joy I am drawing water out of the wells 
of salvation, and if you will repent and turn from your 
evil way, you can have this same joy, and spend 
eternity with God if you are faithful. 

My prayer is that God will bless the unsaved read- 
ers of this book with deep conviction of sin, that they 



conviction. 321 

may turn unto God for forgiveness of sin, and receive 
the riches of his grace in the salvation of their souls. 

Yours in Jesus' love, 

Alexander Carswell. 



If your conviction is not as deep as it should be, 
you may ask God to convict you more deeply. You 
should all seek God because it is right. Some have 
taken conviction for conversion, and without having 
a real change wrought in the soul by the spirit of life, 
have gone on day after day and year after year " try- 
ing to serve God/' while they were under the power 
of sin in their hearts, and could not be as good as they 
wished to be, and so were often found sinning against 
God. It is sad to make a mistake any time, but how 
much worse when it is in regard to the salvation of the 
soul ! 

Now, boys, walk very carefully when you come to 
this point. Do much praying and study the word of 
God, earnestly desiring to know the way of life, and 
God will help you to come to him aright. 

The next step in salvation is repentance, and we 
will have it for our next lesson. 

CONVICT OUR SONS. 

Convict their hearts, dear Lord, of sin, 

And let them feel its weight ; 
Oh, show them, Lord, how bad they've been, 

And help them "see things straight,'' 



322 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

Convict them of their sinful ways, 
And show them how sin's pow'r 

Has ruled their lives and spent their days, 
And tries to gain this hour. 

Convict them, Lord, of sins so great, 

That stand upon thy book ; 
And help them all their ways to hate, 

And to their future look. 

Convict them, Lord, of righteousness, 
Oh, make them see its need ; 

Then show thy love and graciousness, 
And help them strive indeed. 

Convict them, Lord ; oh, let them not 

Go down to endless woe, 
But point them out their awful lot, 

If on in sin they go. 

Convict them, Lord ; you've promised to, 
We know you can and will. 

By faith we know you surely do, 
And promises fulfill. 



KEPENTAXCE AXD COXVERSIOX. 



AVhex John carae preaching the gospel, to prepare 
the way before Jesus, he taught the people to repent 
and " bring forth therefore fruits meet for repen- 
tance," which meant that they were to be truly sorry 
for their sins, give them up, make confession and res- 
titution to all they had wronged, and confess their sins 
unto God. 

It means more to repent than many people believe, 
as it includes the making right of all wrongs that lie 
between individuals, and such a godly sorrow for all 
evil-doing as will make one hate the very thought of 
again partaking of it. 

If conviction of sin is retained and allowed to do 
its work in the heart, it will lead the soul to repen- 
tance. There will be a decision to give up every sin, 
so far as one is able of himself, and a willingness to 
nevermore walk in disobedience to God. 

In coming to Jesus for the salvation/ of my soul 
the Devil brought to remembrance everything that 
could possibly come against me in the Lord's service, 
and made it appear so great that it seemed it would 
be almost impossible to servo him. But in carefully 
considering it I was made to see that this was the only 
chance of gaining heaven or of pleasing God; so the 

323 



324 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

decision was made to serve God if I had to be almost 
continually on my knees in prayer because of my great 
trials. Firm in this decision, I retired to rest at night 
and on waking in the morning my soul was made so 
happy in the love of God that I could truly feel that 
all my trials would be as nothing compared to what I 
should receive, even while here in this world of sin. 
In the years that have passed since that time it has 
proved true. 

Some dear souls will give up all their sins but one 
or two, and try to get saved while clinging close to 
these. For instance, a boy would like to be a Chris- 
tian if ho could be one and continue his using tobacco 
and reading novels. He is willing to give up card- 
playing, drinking, and bad company, but does not see 
how he could give up the two darling pleasures. 
Either one of these would make one disobedient to 
God; for the Word says, " Whatsoever ye do, do all 
to the glory of God," and no one can do these things 
and expect God to be honored thereby. Instead of 
that his cause is disgraced by those who do them and 
profess to be God's children. Others can give up 
such things, but do not like to be numbered with such 
a plain, peculiar people ; for they cannot give up their 
worldly reputation. These things hold people to the 
service of Satan ; for they cannot see why they cannot 
be Christians and hold to those evils. 

You see, boys, they are not willing to bear reproacK 
or to deny themselves for the good of their souls. 
Each one of us must be willing to " count all things 



BEPENTANCE AND CONVERSION. 325 



but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ 
Jesus my Lord." 

Looking the matter over carefully and prayerfully 
and reading the Bible with earnest desire to know the 
way of life, the soul becomes heartily tired of his sin- 
ful life and decides to give it up. Then he sees he 
has some wrongs to make right — has been unkind to 
father and mother, and must ask their pardon for it, 
and then be reconciled to those from whom he has 
been alienated by his own proud ambitions. Then 
he remembers a sly and ugly transaction that requires 
great effort to make right. At last it is all done, and 
he feels much better; and the promise rises up to 
God, " Whatever more you show me from the past I 
will gladly make right." The past being made right 
as far as he is able to do it, he comes to God heartilv 
sorry he has spent so many years in sin and folly and 
that he has so displeased a wise and good God. 

He abhors his past life. Its doings seem darker 
and darker, until he realizes he is " chief of sinners," 
and is not worthy of God's love and mercy: and yet 
he wants it more than tongue can tell, and he feels 
he must seek for it as the pearl of great price. He 
knows nothing more to do, and cries out in anguish, 
" my Lord, I give up the world. I have done all 
I know to do, and if you do not save me, I am lost." 
In this earnest heart-cry ho reeoornizes the Lord as the 
only means of salvation, and rests upon him. So he 
is really believing on him as the Savior of the world. 
The loving Lord whispers, " Ye believe in God, be- 



326 MOTHERS' COUNSEL TO THEIB SONS. 

lieve also in me." " He that cometh unto me I will 
in no wise cast away." Why! that means him. Now 
he can believe that Jesus is his Savior, and as he thus 
believes, joy and peace come flooding his soul with 
the glory of the Lord, and his lips speak the holy 
praises that stir his soul. The dark night of sin is 
past, the light of salvation shines into his soul, and he 
is confident that his sins are forgiven and his name is 
written in the Lamb's book of life. His soul is full 
of sweet peace and joy, and he wonders why the whole 
world does not come to Jesus. He will try to tell it 
to everybody; for he is sure if they knew how blessed 
it is to be forgiven, they would surely want it. He 
finds some who want to talk about it, but have no 
earnestness to receive it, while others are perfectly in- 
different. He has surely found something of great 
value — nothing he ever had suits him so well, and he 
could sing forever: " Oh, happy day, when Jesus 
washed my sins away," or, " Take my life and let it 
be consecrated, Lord, to thee;" " Take my heart, it is 
thine own, it shall be thy royal throne." 

Some are so troubled about faith, and wonder how 
it is and why it is, that one must be saved by faith. 
They can understand repentance and restitution, as 
well as yielding to God, but hesitate to " take it by 
faith " as they are instructed. Well, let us see if we 
can explain it. Salvation is something we cannot see 
with our natural eyes nor handle with our natural 
hands; so when God offers it to us there must be some 
way to take it. 



REPENTANCE AND CONVERSION. 327 

We believe there is such a thing as salvation, for 
we read of it in the Bible, hear of it from Christians, 
and see the effects of it in their lives; and so we know 
it is a reality, though not observed by natural sense. 
As it is a spiritual substance it must be received not 
by the hand of the body but by the hand of the soul — 
faith. It is not seen by the eye of the body, but by 
the eve of the soul — faith. It is not felt bv sense of 
touch, but by the touch of faith; and these are as real 
as the natural senses. 

The eye of faith sees the precious gift, the hand of 
faith takes it home to the soul, and the touch of faith 
realizes its presence there as a saving power. 

Thus the soul dead in trespasses and sins is made 
alive in Christ Jesus. The divine life comes into the 
soul, and we are " born again," " born of the Spirit," 
" born of God," redeemed from the power of sin and 
made righteous. 

Xow what kind of life will this man lead? Will he 
" sin every day in thought, word, and deed "? or will 
he obey the Savior and " go, and sin no more? ' : It 
must surely be the latter; for the word of God say*, 
" If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old 
things are passed away; behold, all things are become 
new." There is, therefore, now no condemnation to 
them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after 
the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the 
Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from 
the law of sin and death." 

In our sinful life we were manv times, if not all the 



328 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

time, condemned by our hearts for wrong-doing; "but 
now since we are in Christ, that condemnation is gone, 
because we do not walk as we did before salvation 
came to onr souls; but being made alive by receiving 
his Spirit of life, we walk after that Spirit which has 
made us free from the law of sin. The sin that is in 
the heart would naturally bring forth evil fruit, but 
the Spirit of life gives victory over sin, and it must 
not bring forth its evil fruit — sins of omission or com- 
mission. 

Then let us see how it works. The drunkard is 
saved from drunkenness and as he is a new creature 
he does not drink liquor, but uses his money for good 
purposes, and loves and protects his family instead of 
being a disgrace and burden to it. 

The lustful man is saved from his passions and low 
desires, and finds enjoyment in the service of God and 
acts of kindness to others. The covetous man is 
saved from his covetousness, and gives to the poor and 
needy, while his time is given to good works. The 
angry man rules his temper by the grace of God, and 
becomes patient and loving. 

Though they all may feel weak, unworthy, and im- 
pure in heart, they realize no condemnation, but desire 
to live closer to God and to become holy in heart. 
"While they know all their sins are forgiven and they 
are born of God, they may feel the need of being 
" filled with the Spirit." 

This first work of God's grace — conversion— re- 
moves our transgressions as far from us as the east is 



KEPENTAXCE AXD CONVERSION. 329 

from the west, and brings us back to the state of inno- 
cency from which we fell when we committed our 
first sin. As we look upon a little baby we think it 
very sweet and innocent, and sometimes individuals 
think it is pure; but when we observe it closely, we 
see it is not pure; for in its innocency it manifests im- 
pure feelings, and it is not long until it gets angry, and 
uses its feet and hands to fight, as well as it can. Thus 
it manifests the carnal nature inherited from the 
fall of Adam, and which naturally brings forth evil 
fruit and makes its life impure and unrighteous. The 
little babe does not know right from wrong, and so 
is innocent before God of transgression. AVhen it 
gets old enough to comprehend good and evil, it will 
not long remain innocent, for it will follow its inclina- 
tion to do evil. 

Forgiveness brings an individual back to the state of 
innocency. All his past sins are forgiven, and he 
stands as though he had never done wrong. There is 
not a single sin held against him to come up in judg- 
ment — all is forgiven and forgotten, according to 
God's word, which is truth. 

The converted man, woman, or child must keep so 
humble, prayerful, and obedient that he does not com- 
mit sin. The Bible says, " He that committeth sin 
is of the Devil;" that is, every one who knowingly 
transgresses God's law of righteousness sins against 
God, partakes of evil, and loses spiritual life out of 
the soul, and so belongs to the Devil's kingdom. 

No matter how good a Christian one may be, if he 



330 MOTHERS COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

yields to temptation and commits sin, he loses salva- 
tion and becomes a sinner, and must come back to God 
through repentance or be lost. One sin separates the 
soul from God just as fully as a dozen. One cannot 
be a Christian and a sinner at the same time, but is 
either " saint " or " sinner," according to God's word. 
There are a great many who claim to be good Chris- 
tians, loving God with all their hearts, and yet say 
they " sin every day in thought, word, and deed," 
and we have no doubt they do; for we see them doing 
many things which God's w T ord forbids, and which are 
sin for any one of good understanding. The mistake 
they make is in counting themselves Christians while 
under the power of sin. They have some desire to do 
right, and try to do it, but fail because they are not 
born of God. I have been in this place myself, and 
tried to serve God nine years in this way, and ought 
to know what a miserable, hard life it is. It looks very 
attractive to a great many who want to get to heaven 
without making any self-denial or being very much 
different from the worldly people. They are willing 
to give up some things that they consider real wicked, 
but their u little besetting sins " such as untruthful- 
ness, deceit, lustful thoughts and desires, covetous- 
ness, worldliness, pride, fashion, sectism, foolishness, 
and jesting, they cling to as things they must do all 
their lives, because they " are so weak." 

Dear souls, it is not because you are so weak, but 
because the heart has not been changed by divine 
grace. " Ye are still in your sins." I was wonder- 



KEPEIS'TANCE AKD COXVEESIOtf. 331 

fully surprised and pleased when after that long nine 
years of formal religion I found Jesus in salvation 
and was given victory over my evil nature and my 
controlling (or " besetting sins/' as they are called) 
were vanquished foes. Xo more could they bring me 
under condemnation and make me feel that I was the 
" meanest, most sinful Christian living;" but I knew 
as long as I obeyed, was watchful and prayerful, God's 
grace would keep me from sin. 

Xow, boys, the Christian mothers hope you may 
get the right kind of religion — you will if you come 
to God aright — so you may be made free from the 
bondage of sin and all evil habits, and " have a good 
time " serving God in the victorv of faith and grace. 
To be converted means to be turned around; and one 
who has been doing evil is turned about to do good 
instead of evil. If salvation could do no more than 
many religious people claim, it would not be worthy 
of honor or of the blessed Savior who gives it to us. 
In order to honor God we must lift the standard of 
his salvation. 

Xow, we have here several letters from those who 
have been saved, and they will tell you some very 
important things, which we hope may accomplish 
much for your good. 



Dear Boys: 

Knowing that Jesus loves you all and is not pleased 
in anv of you going down to everlasting death, I want 



332 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

to tell you of some of his dealings with me, and some- 
thing about how I have treated him. I trust it will 
help some of you to give your hearts to God soon; for 
while you are young is the best time to be saved. 

" "When I was about ten years old the Lord con- 
victed me of my sins. I knew I ought to yield to 
God then. I was attending a meeting, and felt I 
ought to go forward and give my heart to the Lord. 
Then I thought of how the people would look and 
laugh at me, and then I would not yield to God. I 
grieved the Holy Spirit, and he ceased to strive with 
me as he did. Then I went on for years, getting 
harder and harder in sin. I came near death several 
times while unsaved. Once I had the diphtheria, be- 
came verv low, and did not know but I would soon be 
in eternity — and unprepared. I became very much 
concerned about it and had my mother pray for me, 
but oh! it is so very dangerous to put off our return 
to God until we get down to death's door. 

I became worse and worse, was unconscious. If I 
had died, my dear mother would have conforted her- 
self, thinking her son was saved and with Christ. In- 
stead of that, boys, I would have gone down to hell 
a lost soul. You may wonder how that could be after 
being so much concerned about myself, and asking 
others for prayer in my behalf. It was this way: In 
order to be saved, a sinner must " repent and believe " 
the gospel. I did not repent then, but was only 
afraid to die. I knew in my condition that I was 
unfit for heaven and would be cast into hell. 



KEPE^TAXCE AND C02sVEBSI0N. 333 

Kepentance means much more than merely having 
a fear of going to hell. I was not sorry for my sins; 
I was only afraid of the punishment for them. Oh! 
I am so thankful God had mercy on me and spared 
my life at that time. Afterward he helped me to a 
real Bible repentance, and I believed on the Lord 
Jesus with my heart, and " his peace came flooding 
my soul/' and I knew " the past w T as under the blood/' 
and my name was written in heaven. 

" ]STow is the accepted time, now is the day of salva- 
tion/' while you are young is the time to begin to 
obey God. 

Your friend in Christ, 

C. H. Tubbs. 



Dear Boys : 

I believe the Lord would have me send vou my 
testimony, as it may be a benefit to some of you, and 
thus please and honor him. 

I am praising God for his faithfulness to me. 
Truly the Lord has been long-suffering. He has not 
dealt with me after my sins; nor rewarded me accord- 
ing to my iniquity. For as the heaven is high above 
the earth, so great has his mercy been toward me. 
(See Ps. 103:10, 11.) Praise his dear name! 

Five years ago this fall the Lord first spoke peace 
to my soul, and forgave my sins, which were many. 
It was on this wise: While hearing the precious gos- 
pel preached, God's love to fallen man, the Holy Spirit 



oo4: mothers' counsel to their sons. 

convicted me of sin, made hell and everlasting torment 
appear so real, that I trembled under +he thought of 
being banished in outer darkness from the presence 
of God through all eternity. Oh, how glad I am that 
God made a way of escape from eternal destruction, 
and that he so loved us that he sent his Son into the 
world not to condemn it, but that through him the 
world might be saved; that "whosoever believeth on 
him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 
Hallelujah; I am so glad I yielded to the Spirit's call. 
Vile as I Avas, enslaved to lusts and passions, bound 
by the fetters of sin, the Spirit and power of God have 
set me free. That was Jesus' mission in the world. 
God anointed him to preach good tidings unto the 
meek, sent him " to bind up the broken-hearted, to 
proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of 
the prison to them that are bound." " To appoint 
unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them 
beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the 
garment of praise for the Spirit of heaviness; that 
they might be called trees of righteousness, the plant- 
ing of the Lord, that he might be glorified." This 
he did while here on earth, and he is the same Jesus 
now. He is just as willing to help you, save you, and 
keep you as he was those who came to him and obeyed 
him while he Avas here in the flesh, and is just as 
able. 

I was born in Sweden, and my parents being Luth- 
erans, I was brought up in the Lutheran faith and 
doctrine, being sprinkled when a child (for baptism), 



REPENTANCE AND CONVERSION. 335 

confirmed at the age of sixteen, and taken in as a mem- 
ber of that denomination. All this did not bring 
salvation to my soul; for Jesus says, " Ye must be born 
again," and, " Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise 
perish." Eepentance includes sorrow for sin, forsak- 
ing our ways, making wrongs right to all our ability, 
forgiving those who have wronged us, and confessing 
our sins to God — like the prodigal in Luke 15:18-21 
— and then we can believe with our hearts unto right- 
eousness, and look upon Jesus as our Savior, that he 
paid the penalty of our sins. 

Though I was a " member of the Lutheran sect in 
good standing," I had fallen into the grossest sins in 
the sight of God, and although I was looked upon as 
" a model young man " by many (so I was told), I 
was vile and wretched in the sight of God; for he 
knew all my secret sins and thoughts — while man only 
looked on the outward appearance, he looked on the 
heart. He showed me my past life and my heart, and 
truly I had a bad record. The grace of God was 
able to make a new creature out of me, " for where 
sin abounded, grace did much more abound." Halle- 
lujah! God will do the same for you, if you will let 
him, by meeting the same conditions, for he is " no 
respecter of persons." 

If you have been brought up under certain religious 
training and custom? that do not meet the require- 
ments of Almighty God, and that by still practicing 
do not give you the satisfaction of knowing you are a 
child of God and having his constant approval, by 



336 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

his Holy Spirit in your heart, I would ask you kindly 
for your good, to forsake the traditions of your former 
teaching, and the doctrines and opinions of men, and 
search the word of God for yourself. Seek God with 
all your heart and obey his precepts, and you will 
find to your own satisfaction that God will do just 
what he promised, by sending his Spirit into your 
heart, crying, "Abba, Father," giving you the sweet 
assurance that you are his child. 

After my conviction I began to desire and seek for 
a pure heart. I consecrated my life fully to God's 
service, and I believe with all my heart that as I 
walk in the light of truth, obey the leadings o^ the 
Holy Spirit, he applies the blood of Jesus to my heart, 
cleansing me from all sin. Praise, honor, dominion, 
and might be to God and the Lamb forever and ever! 

I had formed many bad habits in my sinful life, 
which had to be broken. I began using tobacco 
when nine years old, and was a slave to it. Many 
times I would try to quit (what I called " swear off "), 
but it was only a resolve to be broken, until God saved 
me. 

The night I first made a start to seek God in earnest 
I threw my tobacco away, but in my own strength. 
The next day I went about fifteen miles from home 
after a load of potatoes, and as it took longer than I 
expected I had to go without my dinner, and I did 
not have tobacco; so you may imagine how I felt. I 
had no experience of salvation, as I had not known 
how to meet the conditions, but had made the decision 



REPENTANCE AXD CONVERSION. 337 



that I was going to be a true Christian. About one 



o'clock I could endure my tobacco-craving no longer, 
and so begged some of a man who was with me. You 
know tobacco-users are great beggars, and if they are 
ashamed to beg, they will steal it if they can. This 
had been my lot. Oh, the deceitfulness of sin! 
Commit one sin, and then another to cover it up. I 
had to make these wrongs right in order to meet the 
conditions of salvation. I made a decision I would 
quit tobacco by the help of the Lord; and so thought 
I would get some gum to use as a substitute for awhile, 
but the longer I chewed the gum the more I wanted 
tobacco. So I made up my mind I would trust the 
grace of God as a permanent cure, and the appetite 
left me. It was cheaper than the " Keeley Cure," 
and ever so much better. Bless the Lord ! 

Joking, jesting, and using idle words was another 
bad habit I had formed, and though I had quit many 
long before I was saved, such as swearing, there was 
one expression commonly used that I will tell you 
about; that was "You bet." I do not remember using it 
more than once since mv conversion. I was walking 
in company with another boy when I used it. As 
soon as I realized what I had said, I confessed my 
fault to the boy I was with and told him I thought 
it was wrong to use it. Eead Matt. 12 :36, 37. And 
so I found w r ith all my bad habits, that if I was over- 
come in temptation or through weakness, if I con- 
fessed right then and made the wrong right, it helped 
me to overcome. And so it may be with you. 



338 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

May God bless every boy and young man that 
reads these few lines, and help you to shun the path 
of sin and vice and live a holy, chaste, and upright life 
before God and man, is my prayer. 

Your brother in Christ, 

Emil Kreutz. 



Dear Boys: 

A good man said: 

" God bless the boys, 
Who make the men. ' ' 

1 30m in a hearty " Amen " to that poet, and while 
I purpose, God helping me, to write so I may edify 
the boys, I wish also to interest them. 

I presume you will all be pleased to go and see a 
boat launched, although some of you have already the 
start of me, and know all about it. However, there is 
something so grand about it that all will enjoy the 
scene. While we have been coming, many things 
have met our view which speak loudly and lovingly 
about God who made all things and has bestowed 
them upon us to enjoy. Everything speaks to us of 
his great love for us, and I trust our hearts are now 
turning toward him in praise for these many mercies 
and blessings given us. 

See! Here we are. Already a large crowd has 
gathered, and " big and little " people seem to enjoy 



KEPENTAXCE AND CONVERSION". 339 

the sight. The vessel is all ready. See tlie long 
timbers under her, and the strong men around her 
ready at a moment's notice to push her off, with the 
help of those large pullies attached to her. Xow the 
word rings out — " Ready " — and every man moves 
his pike-pole at the same time, and splash, goes the 
vessel. Our hearts seem to stand still while we wait 
to see if she goes up or down. Then she comes right 
side up. Is she not a beauty \ See the clean, white 
decks, and everything about her bespeaks taste and 
strength; but I have heard people say that they test 
these boats, and if there is one knot-hole, or bad place 
in the lumber, or flaw in building anywhere, no matter 
how strong otherwise she is, they call the boat only as 
strong as her weakest place; because that place may 
be sufficient to sink the whole thins;. Evidentlv they 
have found a weak place in this one ; for the men are 
measuring the water in the boat, and there is more 
than her allowance, and the men are at the pumps 
while she is being towed away to the " dry dock," 
where she will be tested and repaired, then rigged out 
for the sea. Soon the clean, white sails, lifeboaK 
life-preservers, and many needed things will be added, 
and then we could safely take a trip on her. 

Xow, I think you will see the application I wish to 
make. Every one of our lives is as a boat launched 
upon the great, wide ocean of life, and many of them 
are fair and beautiful to look upon, but God who 
knows all things sees not as man sees. The Psalmist 
felt the weakness of his bark when he cried out to 



340 MOTHEKS' COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

God and said, " Behold [or look], I was shapen in 
iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." — 
Ps. 51:5. 

If you turn to Rom. 7:15, you read what Paul 
thought of the strength of his vessel. Not one of 
those who shall land his bark upon the beautiful shores 
of the heavenly land but what has had to run into 
God's great " dry dock " for repairs — yes, even to be 
fitted up with the Spirit of life — for " all we like 
sheep have gone astray." But " God has laid upon 
him [Christ Jesus] the iniquity of us all." He says 
in John 1:9: " If we confess our sins, he is faithful 
and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from 
all unrighteousness." Praise God for such deliver- 
ance. It is through repenting of our sins and faith in 
Jesus Christ that we get over this ocean of life with- 
out sinking to the bottom. 

We can have the white sails spoken of in Rev. 19:8. 
Our lifeboat is Jesus Christ. He is our all in all, 
blessed forevermore. 

You, dear boys, have begun your voyage, and do 
not think that you can attend to your souls' needs 
later on; no, now is the promise to you, to-morrow will 
never come. To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden 
not your heart. 

Be sure to pay attention to your soul early in life, 
and make mother your confidante; for none can under- 
stand and appreciate so fully " the boy " as his mother. 
ISTone watch with so much interest and hopefulness 
eacH change in his life as he unfolds into manhood. 



EEPEXTAXCE A^D COX VERSION. 341 

How many times we hear a mother say with joy beam- 
ing in her face, " This is my boy." Happy that boy 
if he rightly esteems and sweetly acquiesces to the will 
and wishes of his mother. 

A dear crippled boy, who had never known what it 
was to be strong like other boys, and of whom the 
best physicians had said, " He cannot live longer than 
eight years/' but who was now nearing his sixteenth 
birthday, while conversing on the word of God, which 
he daily read, and had been reminded by the Spirit of 
the command and promise in Ex. 20:12 and Eph. 6:1- 
3, said earnestly, "Mainina, I just believe that is why I 
have lived so long — because I have always obeyed my 
parents." He was assured by his loving mother that 
doubtless it was so. He has often expressed the hope 
of living until Jesus comes to be glorified in his 
saints. Acts 1:11. I am reminded of a small child, 
of whom I read, who had early learned the lesson of 
obedience to parents. Seeing a very aged man, white- 
headed with years, feebly passing her on the street, 
she said, " Mamma, I think that man must always 
have done what his papa and mamma told him." 
Being asked " Why?" she said, " Because he has lived 
so long." These are sterling truths. May you all 
take them home to your hearts. They will have a 
blessed influence upon your lives. 

Let me exhort you, dear boys, to seek the Lord 
early. " They that seek me early shall find me." In 
this God implies that he is more easily found by the 
.young, and when we remember how life's cares, evil 



342 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

ways, and selfish desires fill the lives of older people, 
we know it is true. Therefore wisdom says, " Seek 
him early." I have seen some remarkable conver- 
sions among children in early youth, and nothing can 
be more beautiful than the faith of these young 
desciples. One dear child who had a change of heart 
at four and a half years, awoke crying, and said, 
" Mamma, I'm so wicked." She had been taught 
from her first little talk about Jesus that " all we 
like sheep, have gone astray," and she realized her 
sinfulness. Her mother at once lifted her to the floor 
and knelt in prayer, telling her that by faith we are 
now the sons of God; and by a simple act of child- 
faith she believed, and received the witness of the 
Spirit that she was the Lord's, and her after-life bore 
testimony of this fact. At an early period of her life 
I saw her with her arms around the neck of an unsaved 
aunt, of mature years, pleading for her to come to 
this same Jesus who had saved her. When she neared 
her fifteenth birthday I stood by her death-bed, and 
said, " You are suffering, my darling?" She faintly 
w T hispered, " Yes — but — it — is — all — right." Praise 
God for such a dear Redeemer, who, while he is high 
and lifted up, condescends to the weakest of his crea- 
tion who will come to him. 

A wonderful faith in a sweet child of five I once 
witnessed. He was converted and healed. His con- 
viction was great. He was truly contrite in spirit, 
and not until the witness shone in his heart, shining all 
the darkness away, did he cease to weep. Finallv he 



KEPEA'TA^CE AXD C0XVEKS10N. 343 

broke forth in singing loud and strong, with joy in his 
face: 

" Hallelujah ! I have found it, 

What my heart so long has craved ; 
Jesus satisfies my longing, 
By his blood I now am saved." 

And for a long time he sang a chorus or verse of differ- 
ent hymns as the Spirit brought them to his remem- 
brance. He became remarkable in his life of faith. 
God seemed to take this babe and show to many that 
" it is not by might or power, but by my Spirit, saith 
the Lord." At one time he was left a week with a 
friend while his mother was attending a meeting. On 
her return home as he sat on her knee with her arms 
about him, the friend said playfully, " Come now. you 
have been with me a whole week and had whatever 
you asked for and have not said a word about pay. 
What are you going to do about it? " With a look 
of surprise and deep thought he looked at one, then 
the other, and exclaimed: " Oh, I know! Give us 
this day our daily bread." To this answer the friend 
assured him, " I have been well repaid." His faith 
was that God would pay his debt to her, as he had 
promised him daily bread. 

I could cite many instances of the wondrous love 
of God in illuminating the mind and proving good the 
word, "A little child shall lead them;" but unless 
you come to Christ, seek him with all your heart, all 
will be useless, and our entreaties vain. But T believe 



344 MOTHERS* COUNSEL TO THEIB SONS. 

some who read will seek and find mercy before it is 
" too late," -and come in their youth. Begin now to 
call upon God for salvation, and may God help you 
all, is my prayer. 

Yours in love, 

Aunt Ella. 



PUKITY. 



AVe are wondering how many of our sons appreciate 
the lovely, beautiful, and pure that surround life's 
pathway. Probably more of you do so than we might 
think; for hid away in the recesses of most natures is 
a " better self " that gives honor to that which de- 
serves it. 

If we let this " better self " lie dormant and do not 
encourage it by improvement, we need not expect its 
development or that it will to any great degree mani- 
fest itself in our lives. The farmer boy knows that if 
a field of corn is not properly tended — the weeds re- 
moved, and the soil made mellow by cultivation — the 
corn will be puny and small, and yield but little. 

Supposing each one of us had access to a very large 
flower garden, filled with every variety of flower, and 
we were given the privilege of choosing one hundred 
different kinds for our own pleasure and profit in our 
small flower garden, and some of us would quickly 
make selection of the most bright and showy flowers, 
without considering their different characters and 
qualities; while others would deliberately choose such 
as would give a succession of blossoms, would endure 
severe winters, would be nice for bouquets, for the 



345 



346 mothers' counsel to their sons. 



sick-room, and would gladden the eyes and diffuse 
their sweetness through all the months of the year, 
which would you think made the wisest choice? 
Every one of us is doing this every day of our lives; 
for life is a flower garden that has every kind of flower 
growing within its borders, and some are choosing to 
admire, select, and cultivate the coarsest, most showy, 
and indifferent ones rather than to consider more care- 
fully and make a wiser choice. 

If an individual should prefer the bright, gaudy, 
coarse sunflower rather than the pure, white, delicate, 
and fragrant water lily, we would consider him very 
deficient in taste. Now, if any one makes choice of 
something impure, coarse, deficient of almost every 
quality of beauty except its bright appearance, and 
cultivates it in his life, he is doing the same thing. For 
instance, in life's flower garden is the coarse flower 
of selfishness, which has a bright, gay appearance and 
promises much enjoyment; for to have one's own way 
and every wish gratified looks as if it would be the 
best choice in life; but in choosing this flower we re- 
fuse unselfishness, one of the purest, most delicate, 
and richly perfumed flowers of character and life. Its 
delicate beauty and purity make it most lovely in all 
the circumstances of life. 

Again, the highly colored flower of fame attracts 
the eye of many and seems to be a very desirable ac- 
quisition for even the smallest garden of life; for men, 
women, and children in every sphere are living for 
and in the good opinion and " speech of people," 



PURITY. 347 

while their lives are barren of the choicest and purest 
flower of humility. 

Some of these flowers leave a very poisonous effect 
upon other plants growing near, so that their lives are 
short or they bear imperfect flower or bud; for we 
have seen good, wholesome characters that bid fair to 
become most lovely, entirely spoiled by an ill-savored 
plant that was carelessly allowed to grow, or was held 
in high regard by the possessors. 

So, dear boys, make a wise choice of vour flowers 
of character. Take time for consideration. As we 
look upon you we may know something of what you 
are choosing, and if we should tell some of you, per- 
haps you would be much surprised and somewhat 
ashamed. Will vou watch vour actions and see what 

1/ V 

kind of flowers you are cultivating? 

There are natural flowers that are quite pretty 
which grow upon the most obnoxious weeds. AVhen. 
the writer was a little girl, several of us children had 
the pleasant (?) task of cutting pinpsum weeds that 
grew in an unused cattle-yard. The flowers were 
white and delicate-looking, but exhaled a most nauseat- 
ing and disagreeable odor. The seed-pods were pretty 
to look upon, but " pricky " to touch, and when they 
burst the multitude of small seeds flew in every direc- 
tion, thus sowing for the future. It was thus very 
necessary that they be destroyed before maturity, or 
they would soon fill the farm, and the evil spread to 
friends and neighbors. 

Sometimes we see such fair flowers of character in 



348 MOTHERS COUNSEL TO THMK SONS. 

others that we are apt to think they are using care- 
fulness in making selection of their flowers, but upon 
closer observation we see the blossoms are only weed 
flowers; for the root is a weed root and the plant's ap- 
pearance is coarse and impure, and its seed scattered 
everywhere to the detriment of friends and neighbors. 
Did you ever see a boy who made friends wherever 
he went by being kind and attentive to all he met; 
but who used the friendship thus gained for base and 
selfish purposes, and for the injury of friends? This 
is surely bearing weed flowers, which may for a time 
deceive but are sure to reveal their true character in 
the end. Surely we should not want our life gardens 
to bear aught but purest and best flowers, such as will 
prove a blessing to others. How sad to see time and 
space yielding briars and thistles instead of lilies and 
roses! And how much sadder to think of hearts and 
lives bearing obnoxious and poisonous weeds that run 
to waste their own flower gardens and pollute those of 
others ! 

Look to your hearts and lives, boys, and begin at 
once to grow flowers of grace, beauty, and purity. 
You may enter the garden of the Lord and procure 
seeds, slips, and roots of the most precious varieties, 
and have your hearts well stocked with virtues rare 
and lovely. The only way to effect this is to receive 
the grace of God into the heart to its fullest extent. 
We might place a few very choice plants in a garden; 
but if there were any weeds or any ugly or imperfect 
plants therein, we could not consider it a perfect or 



PURITY. 349 

lovely garden. So, though you may have religion 
enough to show forth some precious flowers, you need 
to have all the evil seed destroyed, all the evil plants 
rooted up, and the very root of evil removed by the 
perfect salvation of Jesus. When this is done the 
heart is made pure, and the life actions become pure; 
for if the fountain is pure, the water that flows there- 
from will be pure also. 

We said we believed many of our sons appreciated 
the pure and lovely. Sometimes we have seen rough 
and coarse looking men admire and love the beautiful 
flowers that grew in their doorvards or be tender and 
loving as any gentlewoman to the tiny babe that 
claimed a portion of their hearts. But oh, how 
precious would it be if that finer life could pervade the 
individual and remove all the coarseness! 

We are glad that the religion of Jesus meets every 
need of the soul and life, so that its work is perfect; 
for it purifies the heart, strengthens mind and body, 
elevates, ennobles, and purifies every thought and 
action. 

We have tried to draw your minds to what is good, 
pure, and lovely — to bring out your better selves — 
and help you think for what will be of value to you; 
for you know we are apt to drift along with the tide 
of life, below the standard of excellence. The coarse 
part of our being is apt to have the ascendency over 
the finer, more beautiful, and pure. 

Probably many of you have wished you could bring 
your lives up to the standard of right, but have not 



350 MOTHEES* COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

known how. Sin is what is defiling to the natural 
man. If he could have it removed from the heart so 
it would not spring up in ungodliness, then he would 
keep victory over evil. 

Let us look deeper into this subject of salvation, 
and see how much God has promised us. We have 
seen how Adam was created in the image of God 
in purity, and how he fell from that grand estate 
unto sin — impurity — how we, being boirn in that 
impure state have an inclination to walk in evil ways, 
although our conscience and better self know it is 
better to seek for higher and nobler things. You 
have seen how conversion brings us back to God in 
innocency and his grace gives victory over sin, so that 
we love righteousness and desire to be perfectly pure 
in heart, for man's soul is never satisfied until it 
reaches the standard of creation — purity. The Bible 
says, " Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see 
God." " Unto the pure all things are pure : but unto 
thern that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure ; 
but even their mind and conscience is defiled." From 
these and other scriptures we learn that the heart is 
made pure. Man in his natural state is sinful or im- 
pure, but in his saved state he is pure in heart; so it 
must be that salvation gives him purity. 

Now, dear boys, how many of you so dearly love 
and admire what is good, pure, and lovely that you will 
desire this most precious gift from God — purity of 
heart ? Is it not very good to think that he will do so 
much for man after all his evil doings? Oh, yes! we 



PURITY. 351 

ought to love him dearly for his mercy and love 
toward us. 

Our last lesson brought us into the life of innocency. 
Sin had been forgiven, and the soul was rejoicing in 
the love of God, but was often catching a glimpse of 
a higher and purer life. While the soul had victory 
over sin, there was a longing to be pure in heart. 
Sometimes during a strong temptation the heart was 
made conscious of the impurity within it. There was 
an inclination toward worldliness, pride, ambition, or 
strife that made it hard to keep a perfect victory over 
sin. There was a foe on the inside of the city as well 
as on the outside, and vou know in such a case there is 
greater danger of defeat. The foe of impurity would 
seek to betray the soul into the temptations of the 
king of evil — the Devil. 

After an individual is converted he begins to bear 
fruit for God. He has quite a degree of love to God, 
for the Holy Bible, and for his neighbors. He also 
has peace with God; for his sins are all forgiven and 
lie has given up rebellion and opposition to God's will. 
His joy is great; for he is much pleased in his Lord's 
service. He has quite a degree of long-suffering and 
can bear quite patiently the faults of others. His 
gentleness is noted by all his friends, who once bore 
much from his harshness and cruelty. His goodness 
is developing day by clay in walking in the light of 
truth. His faith increases as he uses it in offering 
up his petitions to God for present needs. His meek- 
ness causes him to bear with patience the scoffs and 



352 MOTHERS 7 COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

ill-will of all opposers. His temperance makes him 
peculiar in this world of overindulgence. And thus 
he brings forth his fruit of the Spirit of life, which is 
acceptable to God. 

This life of grace is far above his old life of sin, and 
he praises God with joyful lips for his loving-kind- 
ness and mercy that have brought him unto this 
blessed state of justification. As he sometimes realizes 
the impurity within his heart, he seeks communion 
with God, and by more earnest devotion strives to 
have such victory of grace as not to allow it to mani- 
fest itself. As time passes he comprehends that he 
cannot procure freedom from it in this way; for 
growth in grace cannot grow out the evil stump. 

Just here he needs faithful gospel teachers to show 
the Bible w T ay; for this is a part of their mission ac- 
cording to the scriptures. " And he gave some, 
apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; 
and some, pastors and teachers; for the edifying of the 
body of Christ; till we all come in the unity of the 
faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto 
a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the 
fullness of Christ." From this we see positively that 
Christians are to be so edified by the teaching of the 
word that they come through the knowledge of Jesus 
unto a " perfect man " — unto a full-sized Christian 
through the fullness of grace that is in Christ — for 
this is God's provision to bring man back to his pure 
state through the favor of Christ's salvation. When 
we see that conversion does not do that, then we know 



PURITY. 353 

there is more to follow; and when the converted man 
hungers and thirsts for something more than he has 
received in conversion, it is evidence that there is more 
to attain; and when he realizes that his heart is not 
pure, and there is an intense longing to be in perfect 
harmony and accord with God, that too is an assurance 
of something more that is necessary for the Christian's 
good and it also designates the need, which is purity. 
From the converted soul a prayer ascends to heaven, 
" Lord, help me to love thee with all my heart, soul, 
mind, and strength, and my neighbor as myself.'" 
The soul is conscious of its need; and if it is allowed 
to assert its desires and seek God for their fulfillment, 
it will reach the coveted treasure — purity. Many 
dear souls have thus fought their way through igno- 
rance, opposition, and worldly wisdom to the precious 
gift of cleansing. in the blood of Christ; and those who 
do not are apt to live very unsatisfactory lives, battling 
with impurity and temptation, or eventually go back 
to sin. God made provision that the converted should 
move right through the wilderness up to the precious 
land of Canaan — heart-purity — and those who do not, 
spend many years in a wilderness of doubts, fears, and 
backslidings. By this we would not lower the stand- 
ard of conversion, which is a glorious work of God in 
making the soul that is dead in sin, alive unto God 
in righteousness; but God's purpose was to have the 
gospel teachers so instruct the converted as to urge 
them forward to the fullness of salvation — purity. 
When this is done the converted state is a high state 



354: mothers' counsel to their sons. 

of grace, and the soul realizes the approval of God in 
each step forward, and rejoices in the prospect of 
higher attainments. 

This purity of heart is known by different names, 
such as Christian perfection, second work of grace, the 
cleansing, perfect love, the indwelling Christ, and the 
Bible names sanctification, or baptism of the Holy 
Ghost. These all indicate different phases of the 
salvation work; so we will see what we can understand 
from them. 

The first title is " heart-purity." The heart is the 
seat of evil. " The heart is deceitful above all things, 
and desperately wicked; who can know it? " Out of 
the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, 
fornication, thefts, false witness, blasphemies; these 
are the things which defile a man. The evil nature 
in the heart bears all manner of sinful action, and 
when it is regenerated, or " born again," 'by divine 
grace, it receives power from God to have victory over 
its sinful nature. In other words, the unrighteous 
tree is cut down and must not spring up into evil 
action; but the root of evil is still there, and, if not 
kept down by grace through watching and prayer, 
would bring forth its evil fruit — sins. 

When the soul seeks and obtains purity of heart the 
impure element is cleansed away by the blood of 
Jesus; that is, the atonement removes it from the 
heart, and it is made perfectly pure and holy, so 
there are no evil-tree roots to spring up into evil 
doings, 



PUEITY. 355 

Christian perfection means that grace of God that 
makes perfect Christians. When one is converted 
he is a Christian, but is not a perfect one until the 
soul has received the full salvation in the cleansing of 
the heart from sin, or until he is brought back to the 
state of heart from which Adam by transgression fell 
— even to the image of God. 

Sometimes people think this is too high a state to 
be attainable here in this world, but expect it for the 
next. Do you not know that this world is the state of 
probation, and here is where we must prepare for 
heaven; for heaven is holy, and nothing unclean can 
enter its sacred portals? If man contemplated mak- 
ing himself perfect, it would be right to consider its 
accomplishment presumptuous; but when Christian 
perfection is acknowledged as a gift from God, and re- 
ceived by faith, it removes every cause for complaint 
against its attainment as the " height of presump- 
tion," and makes the experience one to be sought and 
received by every Christian. 

As we look upon the works of God we see many 
things that proclaim him a " Master Workman/"" 
capable of achieving anything that will honor him 
by its perfection; and we cannot see how an imperfect 
or impure Christian can honor him so well as a per- 
fect and pure one. 

Again, men make many things that are termed 
perfect, such as machinery, houses, and homes; and 
nature produces fine specimens of animals, suited for 
all purposes. Then why should not the mighty God 



356i MOTHERS COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

make such Christians as shall honor him by the 
purity of their hearts and lives? 

Surely, dear boys, when you think of it in this way 
you must admit that it is quite necessary that God 
magnify himself by a salvation that perfectly saves 
every one of those who desire it. 

This experience is termed second work of grace, 
because it is through God's favor, or grace, that we 
may enjoy its blessings. Ko one properly converted 
thinks of giving himself any credit for the possession 
of that experience, as it is simply God's gift received 
by faith. So, also, in this term " second work of 
grace," all the honor is given to him who performs 
both first and second works. 

The cleansing also designates the work as one that 
gives all the honor to God. That man's heart needs 
a cleansing you have already seen from its sinful con- 
dition, and that he is unable to perform that work has 
also been established by those who have tried to do 
so; and the more they strove the more they became 
conscious of their need of help from a higher source. 
The Bible asks and answers one of the most im- 
portant questions, in the Psalms, which is as follows: 
" Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? 
By taking heed thereto according to thy word." If 
we listen to the teachings of the gospel, it will lead 
us to the way of cleansing both heart and life. 

We were telling you a short time ago what kind of 
fruit a converted man bore, and now we want to show 
you something more about fruit-bearing. In the 



PUEITY. 357 

fifteenth chapter of John, we read: "I am the true 
vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every 
branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketli away: 
and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, 
that it may bring forth more fruit." In another verse 
Christ says : "I am the vine, ye are the branches. This 
purging of the branches by the second work of grace, 
or the cleansing, brings them into condition to bring 
forth more of the same kind of good fruit that is mani- 
fest in the converted. Thev have more love — realize 
they love God with their entire being and their neigh- 
bors as themselves. The peace and joy are multi- 
plied, and long-suffering is increased even unto joy- 
fulness; for what was once patiently endured, as a 
necessity, he now rejoices in as a privilege. Gentle- 
ness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance are 
so increased and increasing that it astonishes even the 
possessors, and the praise of God is welling up from 
full hearts to consecrate utterance. Thus is borne 
the fruit of the Spirit in " rejoicing evermore, and 
praying without ceasing." 

Because of the abundance of love and fruit the ex- 
perience is called " perfect love*/' for the entire being- 
is filled with love divine that makes all else sink into 
utter nothingness, and Jesus is enthroned in the heart 
to wield his scepter of love over all that i> good and 
pure. Therefore it is often called the experience of 
u the indwelling Christ." Jesus -aid to his discipl 
" If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my 
Father will love him and we will come unto him and 



358 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

make our abode with him." This he does in the 
person of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter who comes 
to abide forever in the hearts that are fully cleansed. 

The Bible terms " sanctification " and " baptism of 
the Holy Ghost" mean so much that we will more 
perfectly consider them in the next lesson. In dwell- 
ing so lengthily and earnestly upon this subject of 
purity we have desired that you might behold its 
value and loveliness, and be encouraged to press into 
its experience. It should attract every careful ob- 
server, and be a strong inducement to every relig- 
ious person. What could be more admirable than a 
pure heart and life with all its attending graces? 

Tou will not, dear boys, toss this beautiful, most 
precious and delicate flower of God's garden aside and 
choose the sunflower of worldliness, will you? and thus 
rob your hearts and lives of their exquisite influence 
and power. God grant you may not, but esteem 
God's gift as the very highest good for all mm. 



Purity is a precious blossom, 
Heavenly gift and gracious power ; 
Lovingly its tendrils bind you, 
Longingly it woos each day and hour. 



Purity — oh, the precious treasure ! 
Holiness, love, and counsel sweet, 
Entreat thee and invite thee, 
Coming now thy heart to meet. 



PURITY. 359 



Purity— oh, thy holy greatness, 
Heavenly love, and wisdom too ! 
Comforting Spirit, the anointing, 
Lowliness and meekness woo. 



Purity— can you slight it ever ? 
Purity — your longing heart's desire. 
Purity — choose it "now or never." 
Purity — the Holy Spirit's fire. 



BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST. 



You may all take your Bibles and read all you can 
find upon this subject; for we are decided to teach 
nothing but gospel truth, by the help of God. 

Many times in the teachings of Jesus we may read 
the promises he made in regard to sending the Holy 
Spirit upon those who loved him and obeyed hia 
word. "We will only quote two, and you may search 
for the rest. " If ye love me, keep my command- 
ments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give 
you another Comforter, that he may abide with you 
forever; even the Spirit of truth, whom the world 
cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither 
knoweth him ; but ye know him ; for he dwelleth with 
you, and shall be in you." — John 14:15-17. "But 
the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the 
Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all 
things, and bring all things to your remembrance* 
whatever I have said unto you." — Yerse 26. From 
these scriptures we see the Holy Spirit was promised 
to man after his conversion, and while living in obedi- 
ence to his teachings. The Spirit was with the con- 
verted, but should be in them as an abiding presence 
directing their footsteps into the way of truth. 

We find this promise fulfilled to the disciples who 



360 



BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GvHOST. 361 

met in the upper room after Christ's ascension, as re- 
corded in the second chapter of Acts. Each one of 
the 120 present was filled with the Holy Ghost, accord- 
ing to the promise given many years before by the 
prophet Joel: "And it shall come to pass in the last 
days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all 
flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall 
prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and 
your old men shall dream dreams; and on my servants 
and on my handmaidens I will pour out of my Spirit ; 
and they shall prophesy." "When this was fulfilled 
to those gathered together at that time, the wonderful 
event was noised abroad and many came together to 
see if these things were so, and when Peter preached 
to them, they were convicted of their sins and asked 
what they should do to be saved, and the answer was: 
" Repent and be baptized every one of you in the 
name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye 
shall receive the gift of the Holv Ghost. For the 

O r 

promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all 
that are afar off, even as manv as the Lord our God 
shall call." Prom this we learn that the promise of 
the gift of the Holy Ghost is to all who repent and 
obey God. If it were not for such forcible teaching, 
we might think that only a few could receive this 
great blessing; but when it says " as many as the Lord 
our God shall call," then we know it is for every one 
of God's children. If we search further, we find 
many instances where others received this Holy Spirit 
baptism. 



'662 MOTHERS' COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

Now, boys, let us think. The Word speaks of the 
Father, Son, and Spirit as the Godhead — one divine 
person with different spheres of work. God is our 
Creator; Jesus, the Redeemer from sin; and the Holy 
Spirit, the Comforter and Teacher. When God 
promised that the Holy Spirit should come into the 
hearts of men, he made the greatest promise that could 
be given unto men. 

Just think! The divine being, the great God, 
promises to dwell in us by the Holy Spirit, and " guide 
us into all truth ;" to be a witness unto us that the 
heart is made pure and free from sin according to the 
scriptures. "For by one offering he hath perfected 
forever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy 
Ghost also is a witness to us." " That I should be the 
minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering 
the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles 
might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy 
Ghost." " And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare 
them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as 
he did unto us; and put no difference between us and 
them, purifying their hearts by faith." These three 
texts teach clearly that when the Holy Spirit comes 
to the soul it is a witness that it is perfect, sanctified, 
and purified, and that it is done through faith. These 
three terms signify the same thing — purity— for the 
perfect man is one who has a perfect heart, made so 
by a cleansing from all imperfection — sin — -and 
" sanctified " means " to be made holy, or free from 
sin; to be cleansed from moral corruption and pollu- 



BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GJSOST. 363 

tion; to be made fit for the service of God, and the 
society and employments of heaven;" and " purified " 
means to have been purged from moral defilement; 
therefore " a vessel unto honor, sanctified and mete 
for the blaster's use, prepared unto every good work." 
Sin being removed from the heart, the Holy Spirit 
comes in to be the controlling power in the heart and 
life. 

Let us see if we can make it clearer by illustration. 
If you wish to accomplish anything, your mind or 
will gives direction to the different members of your 
body and they obey orders and fulfill your desires. 
Suppose you want to write a letter. You decide to do 
so, and your hand obeys the will and reaches out for 
the material; and as you dictate, the hand forms the 
words and sentences. Just so the heart is brought 
under the control of the Holy Spirit, and desires and 
acts in harmonv with its wishes; and as we know the 
Spirit of God would only dictate holy thoughts and 
actions, therefore the life is pure. For instance, if 
one receive some injury from another, the natural 
impulse of a sinful heart is to " pay back in the same 
coin," but when the Holy Spirit controls the heart, 
the impulse is to " return good for evil." How many 
times we have heard the expression, " I just hate that 
man, because he played me a mean, ugly trick." He 
that hateth his brother is a murderer." Therefore 
the Spirit of God prompts the feeling and expression, 
"O God, have mercy upon that poor soul; for Ee 
knoweth not what he is doing." 



364 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

The natural man says, when he comes in contact 
with the poor and needy, " Each one must fight for 
himself, let him rustle for a living;" while the saved 
man filled with the Holy Spirit heeds the voice, " In- 
asmuch as ye did it to one of these ye did it unto me," 
and bears his brother's burden by supplying his need. 
Oh, boys! it is so precious to have the very last 
particle of hatefulness, ugliness, and sinfulness taken 
out of the heart, and it filled with the Holy Spirit of 
God. 

When the experience was shown to me in the 
preaching of the word of God, it seemed almost too 
good to be true; but when its truth was assured to my 
understanding and heart, a wonderful longing 
possessed my soul to obtain the gracious benefit, and 
I began to inquire the way to gain it. It was the 
pearl of great price to me, for which I was willing 
to give all I had, and while it was necessary to do 
that very thing, it was far above anything that could 
be given by mortal man. Its worth could not be 
estimated in natural things; it is far above the con- 
ception of the natural heart as well as above the price 
of earthly things. It is a blood-bought gift, the most 
precious that God could give to his saved children. 
Oh, how we Christian mothers do hope some of 
you may seek to find it for your present and future 
goods; so we are going to try to tell you how you 
may obtain it. 

TKe first necessity is to be clearly converted and 
walking each day in the narrow way of truth and 



BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GxHOST. 365 

righteousness, keeping the commandments of God as 
far as they are known, and seeking earnestly to know 
them bv a diligent study of the Word. The next 
great need is to know the Bible teaches heart-purity 
and the baptism of the Holy Ghost; and the next is 
to realize the heart's need of it; and the next, a firm 
decision to obtain it; let the result be what it may. 

We have given a number of scriptures that should 
convince any unprejudiced mind and soul that there 
are two works of grace wrought in the heart by the 
Spirit of God. The first is the forgiveness of all 
actual transgressions; and the next, the cleansing of 
the heart from all impurity. 

You are invited to search the word of truth a little 
further with us. In the seventeenth chapter of John 
in Christ's last prayer for his disciples he asks God to 
" sanctify them through thr truth," and again, 
nctify them that they all may be one as we are 
one." Here we are taught that, although the dis- 
ciples were "not of this world, even as I am not of 
the world," he wanted God to sanctify them, that 
they should have the unity of the Spirit of God. 

TTe see very often that the natural, or carnal, nature 
is prone to make division. In 1 Cor. 3:3, Paul tells 
the Corinthian brethren, " Te are yet carnal ; for 
whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and 
division-, are ye not carnal, and walk as men ?" lie 
could not count them spiritual, but carnal, even bal 
in Christ. This explains it clearly: if the disciples 
should be sanctified, it would remove the carnal 



366 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

nature, and they would be filled with the Spirit of 
God and thus be one as God, Jesus, and the Holy 
Spirit are one. That is just what a perfect salvation 
does for Christian people — the very last remains of 
division are removed, and the blessed unity of God 
pervades the soul. 

Another scripture showing the need of the Chris- 
tian to be cleansed from impurity is 2 Cor. 7:1: — 
" Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, 
let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh 
and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 
Here the brethren " dearly beloved " are exhorted to 
perfect holiness by a cleansing. Holiness is begun in 
conversion and perfected in the purifying of the heart, 
and reception of the Holy Spirit. 

When one sees how clearly the Bible teaches the 
need of a purging from sin, he begins to look to his 
heart to see the need, and beholds in 'different ways 
his lack of purity. In my case I could clearly see that 
I did not love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and 
strength, and my neighbor as myself; therefore I was 
deficient. Again, I saw when God wanted me to be 
reconciled to my neighbor, that while I knew it was 
right to be in love and harmony with all, I was not 
humble enough to be glad to do his will in seeking 
to woo them unto love and good-will; and there was 
an inclination to variance, and a withdrawing of my- 
self from hearty friendship. 

My heart was melted into tears of sorrow, and an 
intense longing to be Godlike in every way possessed 



BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GSOST. 367 

my soul. I knew that whatever good there was about 
me was from God, and whatever was contrary to 
godliness was of myself; so the cry arose to my lips 
from the depths of my soul, " O God, kill me all out. 
Cleanse me and make me clean." 

In Rom. 12:1 I read: "I beseech you therefore, 
brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your 
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, 
which is your reasonable service. And be not con- 
formed to this world; but be ye transformed by the 
renewing of your mind, that ye may prove w T hat is 
that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." 
" This is the will of God, even your sanctification." 
I presented myself entirely to God, was willing my 
soul and body should be brought into perfect accord 
with the will of God in every particular. In order 
to do this I must lay down my will, and take the holy 
will of God. Oh, how unholy my own nature seemed, 
and how anxious I was to get rid of the root of sin, 
that my heart be made pure ! 

I was very sure that God would do his part when 
I had done mine. It was made very plain to me that 
a Christian could make a deeper consecration of him- 
self to God than a sinner could, who was seeking for- 
giveness of sin, and that was the need of being a 
" living sacrifice " presented upon the altar Christ 
Jesus; and when the offering was fully made, the 
promise should be fulfilled: " The altar sanctifies the 
gift." 

It is natural for us to have some desires, aspira- 



368 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

tions, and ambitions for ourselves and friends that 
may not be in harmony with the will of God con- 
cerning us. For instance, a man with a family may 
be striving to procure a comfortable and pleasant 
home and give his sons and daughters a good educa- 
tion. This may be all right in many cases, but for 
some who have such desires God may have a special 
gospel work that would interfere somewhat with these 
plans. He may call him as a preacher, evangelist, or 
teacher; and if his heart is too much set upon his own 
comfort and pleasure, he may call loudly for a por- 
tion of his means to carry the gospel to heathen lands. 
Therefore to yield all our desires and ambitions to the 
will of God means very much to all of us. We must 
stand ready at any time for God to change all our 
ways and wishes to suit himself. 

You know, boys, when a man enters the army he 
gives up his previous avocations and stands ready to 
obey the officers' orders in every particular, whether 
it is to hardship and death or to pleasure and profit. 
Just so must every soldier of the cross of Christ be 
ready to fall in line of duty at any moment; he is to 
have no will of his own, but yield to the will of the 
Captain of his salvation. As long as the heart is not 
entirely pure there will be an inclination to choose 
our own pleasure and profit instead of seeking to know 
and do God's will perfectly. Therefore, to very many, 
if not all, it means very much to " die out," that is, 
to yield up all interests to the will of God. The child 
often has a great struggle to yield to the wishes of his 



BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GSOST. 369 

parents, and the stronger his will the harder it is to 
yield; and sometimes it is done outwardly, while the 
heart chafes at the restriction. The converted man 
will often yield to obedience, while his heart is not 
in perfect harmony with God in his requirements; 
but when an entire consecration is made he realizes 
God will require nothing of him but what shall be 
for his good, although he may not see how it is to work 
out to that end. 

It meant very much to me to present myself a liv- 
ing sacrifice; for I wanted to live in ease and comfort, 
to walk in pleasant paths while in this world; to have 
many friends, and to " have the world's good will " to 
quite a degree. While I had something of victory 
along this line, yet " to be willing to be anything or 
nothing " required a wonderful yielding up to God. 

The first trial that came to show me my great need 
on this line w T as in this way: I w 7 ent to the altar to 
seek for purity of heart and the baptism of the Holy 
Ghost, and while kneeling there it came to me that I 
could more perfectly give myself to God by holding 
up my hands. I wanted to do so, and yet the thought 
of doing anything peculiar before a large congrega- 
tion held me bound for some time. I prayed earnestly 
and asked God to help me and make the way plain 
before me, but could get no help until with my heart 
crushed and bleeding my hands went up slowly to 
" please God," and as they reached their utmost 
height, the lord blessed my soul with victory, and I 
cared naught for " what the people say." My. reputa- 



870 MOTHEKS* COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

tion was given to God, and I could rejoice freely in 
the victory, even should the world call me foolish. 
As different things were brought to my remembrance 
by the Spirit, I yielded my will to God. It seemed I 
was going down, down, down — losing sight of every- 
thing but God and his will. At last I came to the 
place where I could say, " O Lord, I have done all I 
can; take me and sanctify me in thine own way. 
Then the Spirit deepened my consecration by showing 
me the real sufferings of lost souls, while he took me 
through the vale of humiliation; and " I with Christ 
am crucified " was pressed upon heart and mind. 
God had done what I asked him to do — " kill me 
out "— for the old nature was crucified, put to death, 
and could trouble me no more as long as I remained 
consecrated to God's service. 

I was conscious my heart was pure, and looked up 
to God in confidence to finish the work. Then the 
words, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give 
good gifts unto your children, how much more shall 
your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them 
that ask him ?" came to me with the assurance that if 
my child asked me for aught I could give, it should 
have it immediately, and as I, one of God's saved 
children, was calling upon him for the Holy Ghost, 
he must be even more willing to give him unto me; 
and so I could look up in faith that God did then 
and there give me the Holy Spirit and seal me all 
his own. As I believed this, my soul was flooded 
with the glory of God and realized the Spirit's blessed 



BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GJIOST. 371 

presence. Oh, how precious was that hour! All the 
Lord's ! A perfect consecration had brought a perfect 
salvation. I was now where I could truly love God 
with all my heart, and bring forth much fruit to hie 
glory and praise. I could realize that my strongest 
desire was: 

' ' Oh, to be nothing, nothing, only to lie at his feet, 
A broken and emptied vessel, for the Master's use made 
meet." 

My heart was in perfect harmony with God. If 
he said, " Go ye," my heart said, " Yea, Lord;" and 
if he said, " Suffer ye," the same glad response filled 
my soul. My time was the Lord's to do his will and 
seek to save souls. My ability was his, to use in any 
way he desired. And my loved ones were his, to do 
with as seemed to him best! " Xot a sparrow falls 
to the ground without his notice, and ye are of more 
value than many sparrows " was realized in his love, 
and the strong confidence that my desires taken to 
him in prayer should receive his care and he would 
do better for me than I could ask or think. 

How we should praise God for the blessed privilege 
of being " all the Lord's," thus pure in heart, sancti- 
fied, meet for the Master's use, prepared unto good 
works, sealed by the Holy Spirit — in short — hept by 
the poicer of God. Oh, dear boys! may God help you 
to see its beauty and seek for the baptism of the Holy 
Spirit. And though the world may deride and scorn, 
let your bravery be manifest by " counting not your 
life dear unto yourselves/' but live for God. 



372 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

It takes more true courage to be a faithful Christian 
than it does to face the enemy in battle. And though 
you may never hear the applause of the world for 
your deeds of valor, you may hear what is far better — 
the voice of God in welcome: "Well done, good and 
faithful servant; enter thou into the joys of thy Lord." 



THE LIFE OF FAITH. 



Havihg, entered into the holiest by a new and 
living way, we are to live by faith in the Son of God. 
Often individuals think if they only become Chris- 
tians all will be well for time and eternity, and seem 
to think they can drift along the rest of their lives, 
enjoying what they obtained by earnest effort. This 
is a great mistake; for the Christian life is one of 
activity, of earnest effort, and of wonderful battles 
and victories. 

If an army w T ere to march on day after day in ease 
and plenty, it would never develop its powers of en- 
durance nor achieve anything for its country's good or 
for its own promotion or honor. But let it meet the 
enemy in battle and by its bravery, endurance, and 
wisdom defeat the foe — it wins the applause and 
honor of the world, and perhaps accomplishes some- 
thing that is considered of value to its country. 

Just so the Christian must meet the foe in battle to 
prove himself worthy of his Commander or to 
become a strong and valiant soldier. His enemy is 
on the alert to attack him in his weakest place and try 
to capture him for his own pleasure and advantage. 
If the Christian knows his weakness and fortifies him- 

373 



374 MOTHERS* COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

self by receiving grace and strength from on high in 
every time of need, he may escape the snares and 
powers that come from the enemy; and as he claims 
by faith and obtains victory, he is better fitted for the 
next encounter. The implements of his warfare are 
not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling 
down of strongholds. 

The Christian is not always on the line of defense 
to preserve himself from the enemy, but he boldly, 
in the name of the King, takes possession of the foe's 
strongholds. Sometimes the battle wages hot and 
heavy and fierce and long, but if he by faith presses 
the battle to the gates he is sure to win a victory; for 
the almighty God is on the side of right. If you will 
read the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, you may see 
some of the victories of faith, which should stir your 
soul to a real activity for God through faith. Let us 
look along the line of Christian living, and see what 
use there is for faith, remembering that it is simply a 
childlike trust in the promises of God. 

A firm belief of the scriptures brings a hearty con- 
viction of sin, which brings repentance that leads the 
soul to conversion through the act of faith in receiv- 
ing the salvation promised by Jesus, in which the 
soul rejoices exceedingly. By faith he sees the 
Lamb of God bear all his sins away and give him a 
heart to serve God. After conversion he wants to 
walk in obedience, and from the teachings of God's 
word he sees the need of being baptized to fulfill all 
righteousness, and, accepting the duty by faitH, he 



THE LIFE OF FAITH. 875 



obeys tne word and is "buried with Christ in baptism.'' 
Here lie may meet the foe in battle array, insinuating 
and contending that " sprinkling or pouring will do 
311st as well;" but he meets the enemy with the sword 
of the Spirit and forces him back of his entrenchment 
of unbelief with the word of God: " And thev went 
down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch ; 
and he baptized him." This makes the foe shift 
position with : " The ordinances were all nailed to the 
cross.' But, Mr. Foe, twentv-five vears after the 
crucifixion Paul taught the Corinthian brethren, say- 
ing, " Keep the ordinances as I delivered them unto 
you;" and he then more perfectly instructed them con- 
cerning the Lord's supper, which was delivered to the 
disciples on the eve of Christ's betrayal, with the in- 
junction: "Do this in remembrance of me, until I 
come again." And again, ALr. Toe, after Christ's cru- 
cifixion and just before his ascension his commission 
to the disciples was: M Go ye, therefore, and teach all 
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, 
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.*' This victory 
of truth through faith strengthens the believer, and he 
more fully sees how the enemy is trying to deceive the 
people, and he becomes more watchful and prayerful. 
Being baptized, he realizes the answer of a good con- 
science and rejoices in the truth that has been made 
so clear and plain. 

He begins to realize that his heart is not pure, and 
>ecks to draw nearer to God and to understand his 
need more perfectly. He reads, Ci Bleeeod are the 



376 M0THEKS* COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

pure in heart," and while he is enjoying the possibility 
of a clean and pure heart, the enemy appears in the 
form of a religious friend, with the assurance: 
" There is none good. We all sin more or less every 
day." Certainly, Mr. Devil, we admit the fact that 
none of us are good of ourselves, but God's salvation 
makes men " just," " righteous," " good," " holy," 
and fills them with the Spirit, which would surely 
make them good and pure in heart. The Word says, 
" He that sinneth is of the Devil," and you will find 
that the ones spoken of as not being good are those 
who have said in their hearts, " There is no God." 
" Yes, Mr. Devil, I read of holy people in the Bible, 
and that is what I want to be; and if one can be holy, 
every one can, who will." You say, "That is making 
ourselves equal with God and is mockery; and the 
one who does is not humble"? That is just as you 
try to see it, Mr. Foe; for you are trying to persuade 
people every day (and succeeding pretty well) that 
they are plenty good enough for heaven without get- 
ing converted or without obeying the commandments 
of God; and now you want to crush those who are 
looking to God to prepare them by a perfect salvation 
for that pure, holy, and heavenly place, God's eternal 
abode, by taunting them with " lack of humility," 
and " bigotry." We want to cut off your head for- 
ever with the sword of the Spirit. " Follow peace 
with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall 
see the Lord."— Heb. 12:14. " The oath which he 
sware to our Father Abraham, that he would grant 



THE LIFE OF FAITH. 377 

unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of 
our enemies might serve him without f ear, in holiness 
and righteousness before him, all the days of our 
life." — Luke 1:73-75. Surely one must press his 
way through the unbelief, rebellion, and darkness of 
the Devil and the world and " walk in truth/' if he 
would be cleansed from all sin. The Devil fights the 
experience of sanctification or purity because he knows 
those who gain it are being made "strong in God," 
and will be hard to reach by his snares and deceptions. 
"We ought to praise God that he has made the way 
so plain that we may behold the seductions of the 
enemy and beware. 

The Christian after gaining this victory of faith 
and becoming " the temple of the Holy Ghost " is 
better fitted to " fight the good fight of faith and lay 
hold on eternal life " through the promises of God. 
As the " anointing which he receiveth teacheth all 
things," the "Word of God is illuminated and its mean- 
ing made clear and plain, to those who seek to " know 
the truth." Therefore, it is not long before he reads the 
thirteenth chapter of John and begins to inquire con- 
cerning the expression "If I then, your Lord and Mas- 
ter, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one 
another's feet." After prayer and meditation it 
seems so clear and plain that he says to himself, 
" That surely looks as if it means for Christians to do 
what the Lord did. But here comes the foe saying 
in accents soft and low, "O dear soul, that means you 
are to be humble enouu'h to do so in sickness or 



378 MOTHEBS' COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

death; it is a lesson in Humility." But tHe true Chris- 
tian thinks, " Why, my heart was always humble 
enough to do anything for the suffering. Surely if 
means more than that; and then the language clearly 
asserts that it is something to be done, and as humility 
is a grace of the heart, it cannot be done, but must 
bear its fruit in action. It surely means just what it 
says — "wash one another's feet." And though the op- 
position comes strong from every quarter, the more I 
pray over it and read it on my knees before God, the 
more I am convinced it is an ordinance of God's 
house, the church. This verse — "If ye know these 
things, happy are ye if ye do them " — assures my 
heart that washing the saints' feet is included with 
the Lord's supper. Oh, how precious this victory of 
faith against the doctrines and teachings of men! 
Yes, I realize the humility of Christ in my heart that 
makes me willing to do just what Jesus did — " wash 
the diciples' feet." Now I know if I believe and 
practice this, it will be a line of division between my- 
self and those who oppose it; but I hear the voice of 
Jesus saying, " What is that to thee? follow tKou 
me," and the response of my heart is, yea, Lord, " I 
will follow thee even unto death." 

Here comes another twist from the enemy: "OK, 
that was 1800 years ago, and people were not as re- 
fined then as now, and it seems to me it is too sKock- 
ing to modesty; yes, even vulgar and indecent to take 
it up as an ordinance in the congregation of God. Be- 
sides, they wore sandals those days, and needed to 



THE LIFE OF FAITH. 379 

wash oftener." Oh, Mr. Deceiver, I have caught 
you! " Man shall not live by bread alone, but by 
every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God/' 
and Jesus said in his last commission w T hen sending 
forth preachers to all nations, " Teaching them to 
observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you ; 
and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the 
world." That thrust of the sword of the Spirit has 
cut you through and never more can you fight this 
battle with my soul. Jesus Christ is the same yester- 
day, to-day, and forever. He does not change his 
way to please even extremely refined people. " Who- 
soever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my 
words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him 
also shall the Son of man be ashamed- when he cometh 
in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." — 
Mark 8:38. Oh, how strong I feel in God; my shield of 
faith is lifted up and the enemies' darts shall not pene- 
trate it for my soul's destruction. Fare ye well, dear 
friends and foes, God doth hide me in his. pavilion 
from the strife of tongues, and I am seeking not mine 
own glory but the glory of the Father in exalting his 
word by keeping its instruction. 

The Christian presses forward joyfully trusting in 
the God who never lost a battle. Soon he comes to a 
stronghold — " many doctrines." " There are a multi- 
tude of good people who believe many different 
doctrines, and each party or division claim to be right 
and walking in the trutti of God; and can you reject 
any of them because tKey differ from you?" OK, Mr. 



380 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

Devil, how cute you are! No, we will not reject them 
because they differ from us, but because they differ 
from God's truth, and come under the condemnation 
of teaching for doctrine the commandments and tradi- 
tions of men. Let us see what God says about it. 
Please turn and read Matt. 15:1-9, and you will see 
that because a religious people who claimed to know 
God departed from his instruction and taught the 
opposite of truth they were told they had made the 
commands of God of none effect by their traditions; 
therefore his censure was given in these words: " Ye 
hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying: 
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, 
and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is 
far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teach- 
ing for doctrines the commandments of men." How 
firmly this teaches against wrong doctrine and im- 
presses the obligation of knowing the truth. Here 
are several more scriptures that are equally forcible: 
" For there are many unruly and vain talkers and 
deceivers, specially they of the circumcision; whose 
mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, 
teaching things they ought not for filthy lucer's sake. 
* * * "Wherefore, rebuke them sharply, that they 
may be sound in the faith; not giving heed to Jewish 
fables and commandments of men, that turn from the 
truth."— Tit. 1:10-14. " JSTow I beseech you, breth- 
ren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses 
contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and 
avoid them. For they that are such serve not our 



THE LIFE OF FAITH. 381 

Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good 
words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the 
simple."— Eom. 16:17, 18. 

3STow let us see how many things we may learn from 
these verses. In the first place, men may worship 
God with their lips, and their hearts be unsaved or 
far away from his true service, and though this may 
seem good and honorable, Jesus said their worship 
was vain, or of no value to them, because they taught 
the commands and teachings of men instead of God's 
teachings. ISTow let us illustrate this point, to make it 
more forcible. Suppose when a mother leaves home 
for a month's absence, she lays out several books and 
says to her daughters, " While mamma is gone you 
may be lonesome, and it will be very nice for you to 
read an hour a day in these books. You will see I have 
marked portions that are very necessary for you to 
learn soon for your good. Be nice girls, and do as 
mamma wishes." 

On her return home she says, " "Well, daughters, 
how did you enjoy your reading?" " Oh, mamma, 
dear, we were so busy playing, for a few days, that we 
forgot our lessons; and then brother got his new book, 
and said it would do just as well to read in it; and 
then John said we ought to hear the war news, and so 
he read awhile every day to us; and so we have not 
looked at those books you told us to read to keep ua 
from being lonesome — yon don't care, do you, so we 
got along all right?" "Well, children, let us look 
at those books and see what you think about that. 



382 MOTHERS 7 'COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

Here is the first lesson, a very nice piece telling how a 
family of girls learned to keep house, and at the close 
is a note from your mamma giving you her love and 
telling you to ' look in the pin-box and see what you 
can find for each of you/ " Little hands soon find 
the box and bright eyes quickly spy " a dime apiece 
for something nice." " Oh, oh, how we wish we had 
had those dimes the next day after you left, for we 
went to town and could have had a nice time shop- 
ping!" " Here is the second lesson, telling you how to 
be happy, and a note saying, ' If you have been good 
girls, you inay visit Edith for a couple of hours.' " 
" Oh, my! oh, dear! we wanted to go, oh, so much 
but thought we better not unless you said so." " Well, 
girls, take the books and see how much you have 
missed by disobedience." They do so and find a nice 
pleasure awaiting them after each lesson, and at the 
close these words : " If you have been faithful in your 
lessons, I will, if possible take you with me next visit 
I make." See the children's faces covered with tears/ 
and hear their lamentations. Then see the regret and 
sorrow on the mother's face as she says in loving tones, 
" So much you have missed by taking your own and 
other's ways, instead of doing as your own dear mother 
wished you to do." Now, boys, for the lesson to you. 
There is a precious reward in the learning and prac- 
tice of every scripture, and if any one leaves it out or 
puts something different in its place, he loses the re- 
ward; and at the end of life fails to receive the ap- 
proval of God, or his welcome into heaven. Oh, 



THE LIFE 0* 1AITH. 383 

how bitter will be the regrets of those who have re- 
ceived the teaching of men instead of the instruction 
of God! 

jSTow look back to the scriptures quoted and see 
what more we can learn. Paul was instructing a 
young preacher when he said, u There are many un- 
ruly and vain talkers and deceivers whose mouths 
must be stopped/' because " the teachings of men turn 
from the truth." If there were false teachers at that 
time, so soon after the pure gospel was delivered to 
the church, then there is more likely to be more at 
the present time, when, according to the scriptures, 
" because iniquity doth abound the love of many shall 
wax cold;" and it is especially foretold that Ci in the 
last days perilous times shall come," and besides many 
ungodly things they shall do, men shall u have a form 
of godliness but deny the power thereof;" and we are 
told, " From such turn away " — clearly showing that 
God's children are expected to know the truth, and 
distinguish false teachers, and even " instruct " and 
" rebuke w the M opposers," u if God peradventure 
will give them repentance to the acknowledgment of 
the truth." 

Looking back to our scriptures again, we notice the 
entreaty of Paul's language to the Eomans when he 
said, "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which 
cause divisions and offenses contrary to the dictrine 
which ye have learned, and avoid them." Prom the 
strength of the language used we see the necessity for 
doing so, Only in a real strong opposition to every- 



384: MOTHEKs' COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

thing contrary to the pure gospel doctrine could it be 
preserved pure. You know if one associates with 
those who do evil in any way, he is apt to become 
affected thereby and lose his strength of resistance 
against the evil, and may in time be encouraged into 
it, the same as his associates. If one worships with 
those who teach false doctrines, he is apt to lose his 
strength against them, and finally the spirit of truth, 
until he is blinded to the truth and receives the error. 
Certainly our text must be obeyed in order to please 
God, and the verse following makes the necessity very 
clear: " For they that are such serve not our Lord 
Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words 
and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. 5 ' 
This is so strong that it seems it ought to reach the 
hearts of all honest people, and make the way plain 
before them. Men do many things to please them- 
selves, their appetites, their love of popularity or of 
dominion, or to establish their own belief and see it 
prosper. Such people may pray, and read the Bible, 
give to the poor and do many other commendable 
things, but not having the love of God that would 
make them humble and obedient to God, their religion 
is vain, and God's true children are not to mingle with 
them in their worship, lest " they be partaker of their 
sins and plagues," but hold up the pure gospel and bid 
them measure to its standard. 

If you love purity, you will love truth. God 
speaks the truth, and " the Devil is the father of lies." 
Then God's teachers and preachers must teach the 



THE LIFE OF FAITH. 385 

truth, and we may expect the Devil's preachers and 
teachers to teach the opposite of truth — the false. 
'Now, these false teachers do not come looking like 
wolves, bears, and tigers, ready to devour people ; but 
they come looking as much as possible like God's true 
gospel workers, as the Bible says, u wolves in sheep's 
clothing;" and they come to deceive the people — 
make them think they are Christians when they are 
not; because they do not love God enough to find the 
truth and obey it. 

You know in the garden of Eden when God told 
Adam and Eve a certain thing, the Devil told them 
the opposite, and so he is doing the same to-day. God 
tells us to love the truth and to keep his command- 
ments: but the Devil says, " You cannot know what is 
truth; therefore it does not make any difference what 
you teach, believe, or do, so you are honest in it." 
But this is false, like all the rest of his doctrines; for 
every one who accepts the false loses very, very much 
that can never be regained after the final decision. 

Remember, boys, truth is on the side of right, and 
no question is settled properly unless it is settled 
right. Here is a poem that just suits our need, and 
very clearly teaches a very important truth. 

THE RIGHT WILL TRIUMPH. 

However the battle is ended, 
Though proudly the victor comes 
With fluttering flags and prancing nags 
And echoing roll of drums, 



386 MOTHEKS* COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

Still truth proclaims this motto 
In letters of living light — ' 
No question is ever settled 
Until it is settled right. 

Though the heel of strong oppression 

May grind the weak in the dust, 

And the voice of fame with one acclaim 

May^call him great and just, 

Let those who applaud take warning 

And keep this motto in sight — 

No question is ever settled 

Until it is settled right. 

Let those who have failed take courage 

Tho' the enemy seems to have won. 

Tho' his ranks be strong, if he be in the wrong, 

The battle is not yet done, 

For, sure as the morning follows 

The darkest hour of the night, 

No question is ever settled 

Until it is settled right. 

—Ella Wheeler Wilcox, 

The Christian having fought this great battle of 
truth against error is encouraged to " battle for truth/' 
and though he keeps humble and meek, he remembers 
continually, "Greater is he that is in you than he that 
is in the world ;" therefore he knows he shall gain the 
day. Yery often the enemy sends out a scouting expe- 
dition with some slight suggestion against the word of 
God or some very finely expressioned doubt or finely 
worded theory or beautiful teaching of men, covered 
over with misapplied scriptures; but when they are 



THE LIFE OF FAITH. 387. 

analyzed by the word of God as interpreted by the 
Holy Spirit of truth, they are discarded, and sent back 
to their owners. God provided for our need when he 
gave us the " Holy Ghost to lead us into all truth;" 
for " he shall take the things of Christ and reveal 
them unto you." 

One of the most precious and forcible scriptures to 
my soul is this: " Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, 
neither have entered into the heart of man, the things 
which God hath prepared for them that love him. 
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit; 
for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things 
of God." K"o matter how much false teaching we 
have received or how much of it surrounds us, if we 
love the truth and seek to know it, and study God's 
word, humbly relying upon the Spirit to lead us into 
the truth, he will do so; for that is his mission — 
yea, he will take of the deep things of God and reveal 
them unto us. 

Many years ago, before I was converted, I had a 
religious belief that w T as very dear to me, and which 
I defended and upheld at every opportunity. At the 
same time I was not satisfied with my religious life, 
but measured myself by others, and thought: " Surely 
we are all on the same road, and as others seem to be 
satisfied I ought to be also." Sometimes I heard 
different teachings that made me doubtful of the 
security of my position, but it was carelessly put aside. 
After attending a meeting of this kind I began to see 
my spiritual need, and by making a more perfect 



388 MOTHERS' COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

surrender of myself to God I was converted, and my 
eyes opened to see the need of making more earnest 
inquiry of God concerning different teachings, and 
the Lord led me step by step " in a way I knew not," 
until I received the Holy Spirit as my guide and 
teacher. I realized that each individual must stand 
alone with God, and be responsible for himself. I 
could not depend on the judgment of others nor lean 
to my own understanding, but must have help from 
God to walk in the narrow way of truth; so every 
doctrine I had known was compared with the scrip- 
tures, and those that were false were discarded and 
the truth accepted. As I did this there was realized 
a deeper consecration to the service of God, and a 
deeper, richer blessing upon my soul. Looking back- 
ward, my soul rejoices in the victory and is strength- 
ened to press forward. 

Did you ever think how Christians walk step by 
step, by faith, in the light of truth? The scripture 
saith, " If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, 
* * . * the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth 
us from all sin." God is light, and as we walk by 
faith day by day he gives us more light, and as we 
step out in that light more follows. So the heart is 
kept purged. If one failed to walk in the light, it 
would cause leanness of soul; or if he refused to walk 
therein, it would be rebellion, and that is the fruit of 
the flesh, and therefore he would be a sinner before 
God, and have to repent of it before he could enjoy 
God's approval. Very many dear souls stumble here 



THE LIFE OE FAITH. 389 

and the enemy gains his desire — their eternal ruin. 
Therefore we are exhorted: " TTalk while ye have 

V 

the light, lest darkness come upon you." 

This life of faith reaches every condition and cir- 
cumstance; there is nothing too small or too great to 
take to the Lord and expect his direction. He is our 
wisdom; for his word savs: " If anv of vou lack wis- 
dom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liber- 
ally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. Tor he 
that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven 
with the wind and tossed. Tor let not that man 
think that he shall receive anything of the Lord." 
By keeping humble and looking to God for wisdom 
day by day, and walking in all the commandments of 
God blameless, we are kept in condition where we 
can look up to God in real assurance of faith for the 
things we desire for God's glory; for "if our heart 
condemn us not, then have we confidence toward 
God. And whatsoever we ask, Ave receive of him 
because we keep his commandments." It is such a 
precious privilege to be able to carry everything to 
God in humble, believing prayer, knowing that it is 
God's pleasure to do " exceeding abundantly above all 
that we ask or think." 

Here is an incident in the life of a young man that 
we wish you to receive special benefit from. May it 
help you to remember two important things: that 
" God is a prayer-liearing and a prayer-ansirrrincj 
God;" and that Christian mothers are praying for 



390 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

their sons and other mothers' sons; for love bears one 
another's burdens. 



Dear Boys: 

We love the Lord, we love his cause, 
We love his ways, we love his laws. 

And why do we thus 

Love God the Father, and God the Son? 
Because in us his kingdom is begun. 

I am quite an old boy now, but was a little lad 
once, and was blessed with a kind, Christian mother, 
whose counsels were always right. Mother told me 
never to use tobacco, but in boyhood's forgetfulness I 
took a chew, and soon was " the sickest mortal" 
Then I remembered my mother's instruction, and have 
never taken the second chew, for which I feel to praise 
God. 

The war of the rebellion broke out when I was 
nineteen years old, and as my home was in Virginia, 
where we had to take sides, I naturally went into the 
Union army. I was always getting hurt in some way 
and had dyspepsia, and my friends said soldier life 
would kill me. Though I prayed not, I had all con- 
fidence in " mother's prayers;" and when severe 
danger threatened, I would always pray to God for 
help; and when danger was over I was reckless as 
ever. In battle men were shot down all around me but 



THE LIFE OF FAITH. 391 

I was not hurt — why? My mother's prayers warded 
off the bullets. On the 19th of December, 1863, I 
was captured by the Confederates. That was on the 
return of Gen. Arnill's raid on the Tennessee and 
Gordonsville E.K. at Salem (about which you can read 
in history). I was on detached service, in the Ambu- 
lance Corps. All were captured, and I was sent to 
Richmond, and onto Bell's Island, where I was starved 
to nothing but skin and bones, and thousands of men 
died under the cruel treatment. About the 1st of 
March, 1864, the Confederates began to takeoff squads 
of 100 men to send them to Andersonville prison. I 
conceived an idea to try the City Hospital, where I 
staved ten davs. My comrades carried me out of the 
stockade in a blanket and gave my disease chronic 
diarrhoea, and that set mefreefrom the 100 I belonged 
to on the island, and three days after I left, my squad 
was sent to Andersonville, where it is very probable I 
should have died, had I gone. 

We that did not die in the hospital were put out into 
an old tobacco-house, on the third floor, where there 
were dents caused by heavy machinerv and these dents 
were full of water, it having been scrubbed' just before 
we were put there. An older comrade asked, " Why 
did they put us on this wet floor." I answered, " That 
we might get our death with cold;" and he said, " It 
looks that way." There were 600 men on that floor, 
and about the 20th of March there came a Confederate 
officer and said, " There are four hundred here for 
parole. Xow march down the steps in single file, so 



392 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

I can count you." Please imagine the situation: 
two hundred had to be left, and nobody wanted to be 
of that number; so there was a rush made for the head 
of the stairs, and in that rush I found myself exactly 
behind the Confederate officer. I am perfectly satis- 
fied that he could feel my heart beat against his back 
as I stood there perfectly still until he had counted 
398, when he reached around and pulled me out and 
counted 399. Now he did not have to do that; there 
were men in the head of the stairs to fill the place ; but 
he did it regardless of the beseeching faces in front. 
My mother was on her death-bed at home praying 
continually that her beloved boy should be returned to 
her alive. She repeatedly asked God only to let her 
live to see my face, and then take her home to himself. 
There is no doubt in my mind but God put it into 
my head to go to the City Hospital. Though I loved 
the men I was associated with in prison, when I 
thought of going to the hospital I gave them up wil- 
lingly. Had I not gone when I did, I would no 
doubt have been sent to Andersonville and to a more 
horrible living death. Then God put it into the 
heart of the Confederate officer to pull me forward 
and count me in the four hundred parole. I got my 
discharge from the army January 29, 1865, and 
reached home February 1, and on the 7th my mother 
peacefully passed from earth to glory. I never forgot 
what she was to me, and I never could forget my 
mother's prayers, her self-denials, love, and counsel. 
They followed me until I gave my heart to God — 



THE LIFE OF FAITH. 393 

was saved and then sanctified wholly; thus made meet 
for the Master's use. I once wished for riches 
of this world, but I never gained them; and 
now I can see the hand of God in that; for 
through riches I would have lost my soul. 
But, glory to God! he has given me riches of grace, 
riches in faith, and in the belief and love of the gospel 
of my blessed Savior; and that is enough riches for 
me. I care not for the perishable things of earth. 

My home is in heaven, I long to be there ; 
All will be happy, glorious, bright, and fair. 
There will be no more sorrow, there will be no tears — 
In that bright home far away. 

Friends I shall see, who have gone on before 
And landed safe on that beautiful shore ; 
I shall see Jesus, and that will be my joy — 
In that bright home far away. 

]STow, dear boys, if you are blessed with kind Chris- 
tian parents, always remember their counsels and obey 
their commands. The word of God says, "Honor thy 
father and mother, * * * that it may be well 
with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." — 
Eph. 6:2, 3. Thus you see long life is promised to 
those who honor their parents. Then we find other 
scriptures which it will be well for you to heed. Matt. 
6:33: " But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his 
righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto 
you " — meaning all things needful. Thus it behooves 
us to seek the Lord in youth, that we may spend a long 
and useful life in this world, to God's glory. 



394' MOTHEKS* COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

Let us see to it that we will be enabled like Paul 
to exclaim: " For I am now ready to be offered, and 
the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought 
a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept 
the faith : Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown 
of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, 
shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but 
unto all them that love his appearing." — 2 Tim.,4 :6-8 
This covers the whole ground of the Christian's 
experience. Paul's ministry was finished. He had 
done what he could — had done all that was required 
of him, had kept the faith, had not wavered nor 
doubted, but like Abraham " he believed God " and 
trusted him for everything. He cared not for the 
things of this world, but he had treasures in heaven, 
and he longed to be there with saints and with angels 
God's glory to share. 

"We love the souls of the boys and girls and would 
like to have them give their hearts, their lives, and 
their all into the keeping of our blessed Lord and 
Master, " who careth for all." 

• 

" Ask, and it shall be given you, brother; 
He is the Lord who careth for all ; 
Come with your heart all broken and bleeding ; 
Come, he will hear and answer your call. 

" Hurry and tell him, brother and sister; 
Jesus, so tender, loving, and kind, 
Waiting to comfort, bless, and deliver ; 
Hurry and tell him, peace you will find. " 



THE LIFE OF FAITH. 395 

This is the way I came. I found it just as this verse 
states, and may you find this peace and keep it in 
your hearts till time shall be no more and a glorious 
eternity is a wonderful reality, and we may meet at 
the throne of God in heaven, is the humble prayer 
of your brother in Christ Jesus, 

John F. Starcher. 



Dear boys, you see the power of a mother's prayers 
and the influence of her life. Her darling boy (for 
the sight of whom she would linger in pain many 
days) has been saved and is prepared to meet her in 
glory, and we all feel like saying, " Praise the Lord!" 
for this great victory of a mother's prayers. But, oh, 
boys ! I think of something even better than this that 
you may do. How many tears, heartaches, sighs, and 
sad and sorrowful hours would have been spared that 
mother if her son had turned to the Lord in the days 
of his youth! Xone but a mother can tell the sorrow 
our children cause us by grieving our very best Friend 
by disregarding his love and mercy and going on in 
sin year after year. dear sons, gladden your 
mothers' hearts by giving yourselves fully, freely to 
the service of God now. Besides this you 
have the privilege of using the prayer of 
faith for the salvation of other precious souls, 
and thus winning them as stars for your crown 
of rejoicing, to cast at your dear Savior's feet when 



396 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

we shall sing the glad new song of redeeming love in 
the courts of glory. 

There are several more great battles of faith and 
truth for the Christian, which we will put in different 
chapters. The next is the church subject. Will you 
please read all the scriptures you can find on the 
church? 



THE CHUKCH OF GOD. 



Perhaps some of you will think as you read this 
title, "Why, I never heard of that church!'' but if 
you have read the scriptures you know something 
about it. For the good of some we will tell what will 
be interesting to you concerning it. 

This church w 7 as built over 1800 years ago. It is 
the greatest church that ever existed; for it has Jesus 
as its founder, its ruler, its lawgiver, its priest, and its 
Savior. This church has withstood the lapse of time, 
all the powers of hell, and all the ignorance and will- 
fulness of man. As it came from the hand of divin- 
ity, it is pure — " without spot or blemish or any such 
thing" — therefore all its members are saved people, 
avIio walk in the light of holy truth. Its doctrine is 
the gospel of Jesus Christ, and it* extent is heaven 
and earth. These strong assertions we find are scrip- 
tural, which we desire to show by a few quotation-. 
In Matt. 16:18 Jesus said: "Upon this rock I will 
build my church; and the gates of hell shall not pre- 
vail against it." The building was begun with the 
teaching of John, Jesus, and the apostles; and the 
church was fully set in order on the day of Pentecost, 
when the fullness of salvation was given by the bap- 

397 



398 MOTHERS COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

tism of the Holy Ghost, and the gifts of the Spirit 
bestowed severally as he willed, thus preparing each 
one to occupy his place and discharge the duties of 
his office. It was built between A. D. 32 (Matt. 16: 
18) and A. D. 59 (1 Cor. 3:9; Eph. 1:23; 1 Cor. 12; 
1 Pet. 2:5). 

This church was prophesied of as a great temple of 
the Lord — " a habitation of God through the Spirit." 
God dwelt with his people in the wilderness in a 
tabernacle made after a certain God-given pattern, 
and this tabernacle was carried by them in all their 
journeyings until they reached the promised land of 
Canaan and had conquered their enemies. Then he 
made choice of a king to build a wonderful and mag- 
nificent temple, that he might have a suitable dwell- 
ing-place: but in this latter and better dispensation of 
gospel grace he dwells in the hearts of saved men, 
and they united by the Holy Spirit of God to form a 
most beautiful and precious temple which was proph- 
esied of 519 years before Christ by the prophet 
Zechariah, in these words: " Thus speaketh the Lord 
of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is 
The Branch; and he shall grow up out of his place, 
and he shall build the temple of the Lord: * 
and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon 
his throne; * * * and the counsel of peace shall 
be between them both. * * * And they that are 
far off shall come and build in the temple of the Lord, 
and ye shall know that the Lord of hosts hath sent 
me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will 



THE CHURCH OF GOD. 399 

diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God."^ 
Turning to Eph. 2:19-22 we see the fulfillment of 
this prophecy: " Now, therefore, ye are no more 
strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the 
saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon 
the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus 
Christ himself being the chief corner-stone. In 
whom all the building fitly framed together groweth 
unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are 
builded together for an habitation of God through the 
Spirit." 

"What could be grander? Let us look at it care- 
fully. Jesus takes his apostles and makes them 
foundation stones for his beautiful temple, and he 
himself becomes the chief corner-stone. Then he 
takes the rough stones from the quarry of sin, 
smooths them up by his redeeming grace, purifies 
them, and places them in the building as suits him, 
thus causing it to grow into a holy temple of the 
Lord. Each one being " filled with the Spirit," it 
makes his perfect dwelling-place, and our hearts are 
his throne upon which he sits to reign and rule. "The 
government is upon his shoulders," and he directs all 
into the holy way of truth and righteousness; there- 
fore " of peace there is no end." Those who are far 
off in sin but " are made nigh by the blood of Christ," 
or those who live on down to the end of time shall be 
builded in; for God is able. 

This church extends all over this world; for "in every 
nation he that feareth him [God], and worketh tight- 



400 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

eousness, is accepted with him/' and Jesus says, " I 
am tlie door." 'No man can get into this church but 
by receiving Jesus as his Savior from sin. This is 
the door that "no man openeth and no man shutteth." 
Every Christian in this world belongs to this church, 
and every child of God who has gone through death's 
door into the realms of glory belongs to it; for " ye 
are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the 
living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an in- 
numerable company of angels, to the general assembly 
and church of the first-born, which are written in 
heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits 
of just men made perfect, and to Jesus." Thus we 
have found the church of God, and, as a city set upon 
a hill, it cannot be hid. It giveth light to all around, 
by preaching, teaching, and living the truth; for it 
is " the pillar and ground of the truth." 

It is a very visible church; for it is composed of 
men, women, and children who have been saved and 
made peculiar by their godly lives. 

Now, we want to show you that there is only one 
Bible church. " For as the body is one, and hath 
many members, and all the members of that one body, 
being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by 
one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether 
we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; 
and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." — 
1 Cor. 12:12, 13. " Now ye are the body of Christ, 
and members in particular." — Yer. 27. Col. 1:18: 
" And he is the head of the body, the church." " "Who 



THE CHURCH OF GOD. 401 

now rejoice in my sufferings for you and fill up that 
which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh 
for his body's sake which is the church/' — Ver. 24. 
Eph. 1:22, 23. " And hath put all things under his 
feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to 
the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that 
filleth all in all. Xow we see the Bible recognizes 
but one body of Christians, which is the one church, 
and Jesus is the head over that one body. If we see 
a head, we expect to find only one body — it would be 
a great monstrositv that would have one head and a 
multitude of bodies. Although the world is filled 
with what are called " churches " and every one claims 
to be a " church of God " and puts Jesus as its head, 
Ave see it is a great mistake ; for there is only one body 
for the one head, Jesus. 

Xow, boys, please try to understand this subject and 
get the Bible idea of the church. A great number of 
people of every nation, all believing in Jesus as their 
Savior, all filled with the Holy Spirit, all walking in 
the light of truth, all bound together by the cords of 
divine love and harmony, all under the control of one 
head, Jesus. Is that not beautiful? Do you not 
wish with me that all could see this spiritual church, 
and avoid the multitude of man-made organizations 
that consider themselves churches? "We believe some 
of you do; for there is a great awakening on this sub- 
ject, and many who are growing tired of thia decep- 
tion are looking for something bettor. The time is 
come when the bride (the church of God) is making 



402 r mothers' counsel to their sons. 

herself ready for the coming of the Lord, and must 
appear in the beauty of purity and spiritual unity. 

Let us see how this state of " many churches " arose. 
We find from the Bible that in the apostles' time there 
was but one true church, which continued for some 
time in its purity. There arose, about 270 A. D., a 
great religious power that persecuted and killed all 
the Christians it could find and spread its darkness 
and superstition throughout the world. Though 
error may for a time appear to conquer truth, she 
arises in renewed strength to victory. From the 
darkness of Catholicism came Martin Luther in the 
sixteenth century, teaching the gospel truth of salva- 
tion by faith; and the Bible, so long withheld from 
the people, again found its way into homes and hearts 
to shed its glorious rays of redeeming love in salvation 
of souls from the darkness of sin. This is called the 
Great Beformation, and was a wonderful time of 
victory for truth and righteousness. The great re- 
formers, confused by the darkness of Catholicism, saw 
not the Bible church of God, but founded human 
organizations to carry on the gospel work. They 
retained much of the error of Catholicism, and in so 
doing ignorantly honored her, whom they desired to 
protest against, and for which they were called Prot- 
estants. 

As different Bible truths were made clear to indi- 
Adduals they withdrew from the old organizations and 
founded new ones which they hoped to keep purer. 
But it would not be long until the new divisions would 



THE CHURCH OF GOD. 403 

lose their spirituality and drift along in formalism, 
refusing to teach unpopular Bible truths and adopting 
new ideas and pleasing doctrines and beliefs, until 
again the more spiritual would come forth to form 
another " church." Thus has it rolled on, until our 
world is full of sects and divisions, each claiming to 
teach the pure gospel yet all differing and teaching 
in various ways just the opposite doctrines — showing 
clearly that truth does not abide within them. In 
the last few years the hearts and minds of the most 
devoted and spiritual people are turned toward unity. 
They see the evils of so many divisions, and are try- 
ing to find a way out of the difficulty. Others would 
like a grand union composed of all the sects, and are 
trying to find a ground for the union, but so far have 
failed to do so. Again, others see in a "broadness of 
fellowship between the divisions a grand advance 
toward brotherhood." Although man may think, plan, 
hope, and work, there is only one way out of the 
trouble, and that is the right way — God's way. We 
find that in the Bible, for we see how it was in the 
beginning, and as Jesus is the same and changes not, 
we know it ought to be the same to-day. Then the 
question comes, " What doth hinder?" and in the light 
of truth we must answer, " JSTothing." 

God's salvation will do as perfect a work now as 
ever; for it will purify, fill with the Holy Spirit, and 
unite the people of God, just as perfectly as in the 
apostles' time. Then the remedy i* a full salvation 
that removes division and all willfulness and pride 



404 MOTHERS* COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

that would prevent souls from coming to the knowl- 
edge of the truth. The enemy has worked his false 
doctrines and the teachings of men in upon those who 
claim to serve God, until their eyes are blinded to the 
truth. 

God never gave man the privilege of building or 
organizing churches, and so what they build with- 
draws honor from the one our Lord built. So, dear 
people, come back to God's church. Forsake the 
doctrines, teachings, and buildings of men, and come 
back to truth and Father's house. We know many 
precious souls are honest in believing it is right to 
belong to some sect, but if they will read all they can 
find in the Bible on divisions, false doctrines, false 
teachers, and the church of God, they will surely 
see differently if they come willing to see; for you 
know, boys, " No one is so blind as those who will 
not seeP Is any one thus willful about " his church ?" 
then there is little hope of him seeing something 
better. 

Eighteen years ago no one could hurt me worse nor 
make me more angry than to say a word against " my 
church." I even " shut my eyes " to things I knew 
were not right, and drifted along with the multitude. 
But after I was converted, and saw that " my church " 
did not teach purity of heart, I forsook her and entered 
another that did; and when in studying my Bible I 
saw " my new church " did not measure to the stan- 
dard of the Bible church of 1 Cor. 12, 1 let it go also, 
and met with those who would worship God in the 



THE CHURCH OF GOD. 405 

beauty of holiness. This was not done hastily or 
carelessly or without a tear or heartache, but I wept 
and prayed, and read and prayed, until I came to the 
point: " Let others do as they may, I must take the 
Holy Ghost and the word of God as my guide." It 
seemed I had to let go of every prop and stay — for I 
had unconsciously depended upon the judgment of 
preachers and friends — and lean alone upon God. 
How tremblingly and uncertainly I took hold of the 
great cables of truth and spiritual guidance! Surely 
God was very merciful to me in my human weakness 
and bore long with me, and I surely must do the same 
with others. 

As I took my Bible to the secret closet and on my 
knees before God plead for direction, and claimed 
the promise " "When he the Holy Ghost is come he 
shall lead you into the truth," he fulfilled it to me, and 
my eyes were opened to behold wondrous things out 
of God's law. I saw the lovely and pure temple of 
God, and that I had a place to fill in it to God's glory; 
and my soul was made happy in the love and wisdom 
of God. 3STow, dear boys, will you go and do likewise? 
Have you anything too good to yield to Jesus? or are 
you not willing to give up " your church " and take 
God's? May God help you all to take a stand for 
God's eternal truth and his holy temple, the one 
church of God. 



406 MOTHERS* COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 



ONLY ONE CHURCH. 

Only one Church ? How can it be ? 
Why here is one — yes, one, two, three 
Upon this street, and four, rive, six 
Just there on that — so now we'll fix 
Upon the number ten and five ; 
And if we look, we find they thrive. 

Only one Church ! Yes, it is true, 
And though it seems so strange and new, 
This Church was built in century one, 
By Jesus Christ — God's only Son — 
And to his glory, honor, praise, 
It now must last till end of days. 

Only one Church ! The gates of hell 
Cannot prevail ; it's builded well 
Upon the rock of apostles true, 
And Jesus Christ the Corner, too : 
The stones are smoothed and fitted in 
Through grace and truth, that saves from sin. 

Only one Church ! 'Tis grand and fair. 
We wish you all would have a share 
Of all its blessings and royal grace 
That sanctifies and fills the place. 
If all could see its holy worth, 
They'd see no other on this earth. 

Only one Church ! a body one : 
The only head is Christ the Son, 
Who moves each member at his will, 
And helps them all their place to fill; 
For in this temple of God and grace, 
Each one may surely find a place 



THE CHXTROH OF GOD. 407 

Only one Church ! A temple grand ! 
Upon the truth we all must stand, 
j^.nd so we should inquire of God 
And walk the way our Savior trod, 
To see his works or find his will ; 
Then all his truth by us fulfill. 

Only one Church ! His dwelling-place. 
Why, now we see his holy grace 
Could not conceive of anything 
But union fair, or what would bring 
The souls of men to higher thought, 
To purer ways with virtues fraught. 

Only one Church ! His ways above 

The thoughts of man, and so in love 

He built his house above the plane 

Of strife and sects and " numbers " gain ; 

And so beneath his feet we place 

All things that truth and love disgrace. 

Only one Church ! We know the love 
That binds our hearts is far above 
All selfish zeal or sectish strife, 
And honors God and gives a life 
That seeks no way but what is right, 
And trusts not flesh, but holy might. 

Only one Church ! Our God is strong ; 
We know he's able to conquer wrong, 
Bring his children from church of men 
xVnd lead them back to truth again — 
Thus build them in his church so dear, 
And place around the wall so clear. 



408 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

Only one Church ! Salvation's wall 
Is strong and pure, and offers all 
A fair retreat from worldly ways, 
And grace and help for him who prays 
And watches well ; and keeps him pure 
From all the ways that would allure. 

Only one Church ! Oh, now I see ! 
There is but one will do for me — 
The Bible church — it is so grand ! 
And though there's many o'er the land 
That bear the name, 'tis falsely given, 
And will not lead our souls to heaven. 

Only one Church ! I join the strain, 
And find it is a sweet refrain 
To all who tarried so far from home, 
But now forever have ceased to roam, 
And think in word or sing in song, 
Only one Church — the heav'nly throng. 



DIVINE HEALING. 



One of the precious benefits of the church of God 
is divine healing of bodily affliction through faith in 
the promises of God. Perhaps some of our sons know 
all about it and have received the benefit through their 
own or others' prayers ; but as many have not heard of 
this great blessing, or have not been where they could 
receive it from the hand of God, we feel it is quite 
necessary to dwell upon the subject for a little time, 
and give several testimonies. There is nothing that 
enlists human sympathy more than suffering. When- 
ever we see any one in distress and pain, or with a 
broken-down and disabled body as the effects of sin 
and evil practices, sadness fills our hearts. If we are 
thus touched with compassion, we know the great 
loving heart of God must be made sad indeed by the 
distress of his creatures. 

Sickness and disease are brought upon us by dis- 
obeying the laws of health or are from the hand of the 
Devil, who seeks to destroy soul and body. In Job's 
case God permitted the Devil to try him, but would 
allow him to go just so far and no further ; and while 
the Devil would have made it work for his destruction 
or to cause him trouble, God overruled it for Job's 

409 



410 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

good. And so it may be every time, if people will 
only learn the lessons needful to them. The Psalmist 
says, "Before I was afflicted I went astray ; but now 
have I kept thy word." Oftentimes sore affliction 
brings people where they become willing to seek God 
for salvation. In such cases God overrules the work 
of Satan for good. Others become more hardened by 
their distresses and trouble, but when health returns 
they gratefully acknowledge it as a good gift from 
God, and seek to serve him. In either case God is 
honored. There are some instances where the enemy 
gains the day by forcing dear ones to believe that God 
is delighted in their sufferings and distresses, and 
they hate him and refuse to yield to his service ; and 
if they get well, they are found to give the glory to 
anything and everything but God. In such cases, by 
their own willfulness they turn from the great good 
they might receive. 

God in his great love has provided a "sure cure" for 
all disease and affliction among those who are his 
children by faith. If you look back to his dealings 
with the children of Israel, you will see how kindly he 
dealt with them in healing them, or in protecting 
them from disease ; and if you read the gospels, you 
will see how Jesus healed all manner of sickness and 
disease among the people, and sent out his disciples to 
"heal the sick," and the epistle of James gives this in- 
struction to the children of God: " Is any among you 
afflicted ? let him pray. Is any merry ? let him sing 
psalms. Is any sick among you ? let him call for the 



DIVINE HEALING* 411 

elders of the church; and let them pray over him, 
anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord : and 
the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord 
shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, 
they shall be forgiven him." In the commission to 
the disciples Jesus says to them, " These signs shall 
follow them that believe : In my name shall they cast 
out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they 
shall take up serpents ; and if they drink any deadly 
thing, it shall not hurt them ; they shall lay hands on 
the sick, and they shall recover." While it is a pop- 
ular belief that " the day of miracles is past," these 
few scriptures are strong against it, and have been 
relied upon by the sick and proved true by Christians 
on down to the present time. As God is bringing his 
children back to apostolic teaching and living there 
are multitudes of living testimonies to the willingness 
and power of God to heal all manner of sickness and 
disease. 

There are many general promises that include heal- 
ing. For instance, the Word says, " What things so- 
ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive 
them, and ye shall have them." " If two of you shall 
agree as touching anything ye shall ask, it shall be 
done for you of my Father which is in heaven." 'Tf 
ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it." If 
a Christian is in trouble in any way, it is right for 
him to take it to the Lord in prayer and expect help 
from him. Sometimes people will apparently believe 
this, and yet when they come to God in sickness, in- 



412 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

stead of asking for healing they will ask for patience 
to endure their distress, and yet be taking all the 
medicine possible to cure them. This seems at least 
somewhat inconsistent. If one is in danger of death 
by drowning or by violence of men, no matter how 
wicked he may have been, he begins to call upon God 
for help ; and if he is delivered from his danger, he 
considers it providential: but in sickness, while he 
may ask God to spare his life, he hesitates to ask for 
healing. This is a wrong position, and if all will 
study their Bibles, they will see how many precious 
promises would encourage us to look to God by faith 
for the removal of all disease. 

When quite young a religious book fell into my 
hands and gave me a little knowledge of divine heal- 
ing through the prayer of faith. Though not a 
Christian, I was led to believe that Christians ought 
to live so close to God as to have answers to prayer on 
all lines of human needs. Years after when I began 
to serve God, it seemed natural for me to trust for 
help in every time of need, and so sickness was taken 
to him in earnest prayer, and he many times healed 
and gave me strength for all motherhood's needs and 
trials. It has also been a great pleasure to take my 
children to God in all their sickness and find a present 
help and a Great Physician. Sometimes faith has 
been tried, but by persistently obeying and trusting 
the best I knew how the way of escape was found, and 
proved the help of the Lord is far above the earthly. 

As we have thought of all our sons living under 



DIVINE HEALING. 413 

different circumstances and conditions, the sick ones 
have come in for a good share of sympathy and love, 
and we feel very anxious to encourage them to seek 
the salvation of their souls, and then look to Jesus 
for their healing. There are many diseases peculiar 
to men that the family physician fails to reach, and 
though many patent medicines are sought as a relief 
they fail to reach the trouble, and so many are leading 
poor, miserable, aimless lives devoid of strength and 
manhood. Dear reader, there is help for all such 
needv ones at the foot of the cross and in the name 
of Jesus. It would be sad indeed to go on in suffer- 
ing and weariness when God has given his word that 
he is able and willing to heal. So we hope you may 
all bring your diseases to the Lord, and let him set 
you free from their bondage. Think of the young 
men who bear in their faces and forms, and in their 
dispositions and manners, the marks of sexual evils 
and corruptions that bring awful diseases to prey upon 
the secret springs of life and vigor. If there is a 
class of people more needy than others, it is this one. 
Oh, how we Christian mothers do pray and trust that 
some precious boys or men of this needy class will 
press into the kingdom of God and find the help they 
need! We will give you several testimonies, of those 
who have found this help and proved its power to 
their great joy and eternal good, but before we do so 
there is another thought we wish to expro^, and then 
give a brother's experience as we remember it. 
Sometimes young men and boys raised by religious 



414: mothers' counsel to their sons. 

parents realize the truth of the gospel of Christ, and 
firmly believe that if they should get saved God would 
call them to preach the gospel, and, to avoid what 
seems to them an unpleasant duty, they refuse to heed 
the wooing voice of Jesus, and go on in sin. Some- 
times disease fastens upon the poor body, and the 
enemy hurries the soul to its final doom. Oh, dear 
sons, if any of you who read these lines are standing 
in this position, let us entreat and prevail upon you to 
bravely take your place where God appoints; for in 
his order you will be prosperous and happy, and out of 
it you will never find the satisfaction you desire. If 
you all could know how much the Lord blesses and 
how wonderfully he prepares his workers for their 
field of labor, you would not be long in yielding to 
God. Years ago he so opened my eyes to see the 
need of gospel workers, and the sad condition of lost 
souls, that I would gladly have gone forth to herald 
the good news of salvation from sin; but not being 
free to do so, my prayer is going up to God that he 
may use me in some way to encourage others to yield 
gladly to the call, " Go ye into my vineyard." Never 
is my soul so blessed as when presenting the truth of 
God, with the precious anointing of the Spirit of God. 

Now, boys, listen to this experience, and get all 
the good you can from it. 

Brother B — when quite a boy was an earnest Chris- 
tian, and soon heard the voice of God calling him, 
' Go preach my gospel." He listened and waited, 
then listened and drew back; and, although God 



DIVINE HEALING. 415 

assures us " his grace is sufficient/' he refused to heed 
the voice, and went back into sin. He tried to enjoy 
himself, but soon consumption preyed upon his body, 
and in spite of poor health he married — one whom 
he thought would urge him forward in a life of gaiety, 
and thus he would escape the accusing voice of con- 
science. He kept at business until he fell from weak- 
ness, and was placed upon what all supposed would be 
his death-bed. Weaker and weaker he grew, until 
he could not turn his head; and yet he would not 
believe he was going to die. At last he overheard 
the doctor say to his mother, " Is he still alive?" This 
awakened him somewhat to his danger, and yet he 
smiled to think he knew more than the doctor thought 
— for he was able to hear. His hand lay upon the 
pillow before his eyes, and he thought he would test 
the matter in this way: If he could move his fingers, 
he would take it that he would get well; but if he 
could not, then he would believe he would die. He 
tried it, but could not move them. Then he thought, 
" I can still hear, see, and think. Then gradually 
his hearing left him, and his eyes began to dim, and 
his mind was becoming benumbed; and he said to 
himself, " Oh, this is death," and he saw the long 
eternity of despair and woe before him. Then he cried 
to God from the depths of his soul, " Oh, God save 
me! I'll preach your gospel." He knew nothing 
more, and lay unconscious several hours, and his 
friends waited to see the last breath drawn. He re- 
turned to consciousness; sat up, called for his clothes, 



416 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

and when his friends did not bring them (so startled 
were they) he arose from his bed, obtained them him- 
self, dressed, and sat in the rocking-chair the rest of 
the day, took his meals as usual, and the next day went 
to his office, to the utter amazement of all who knew 
him, and when he told the doctor his experience, he 
replied, " If any one ought to preach the pure gospel, 
it is you." He gave himself to God and gospel work, 
and has been preaching for many years. 

You see, dear boys, the power of God in bringing 
him back to life and health when he gave up his 
rebellion and looked to God for help. So may each 
of you receive all you need, whether for soul or body. 
"We can glorify God better in health than in sickness. 
It needs a good, strong body for the Lord's active 
service in his vineyard. As he has made provision 
for it through the atonement of Christ, we can honor 
and please him by accepting it as a free gift from a 
loving Father's hands. There is no disease too great 
for his healing power; for he who is able to form the 
human body from earthly substance is able to repair 
it, no matter how little life or soundness there may be 
in it. Then another precious thought and blessed reality 
is this: There is nothing too small for his loving notice 
and kindly touch of healing power. Then may you 
all honor God by coming boldly to the throne of grace 
to find your "present help" in time of need. What 
God Has done for others he is just as willing to do for 
you, if you come humbly and in simple faith. How 
sad it would be if the sons of Christian mothers, who 



'"divine healing*. 417 

have been prayed for in all their childhood sickness, 
and who have often received the healing touch from 
the Great Physician's hands, should in manhood's 
years and strength turn from this loving friend, and 
lean upon the arm of flesh in times of physical weak- 
ness and need. 

Sometimes youthful lusts have laid the foundation 
for years of secret sorrow and pain, and various 
reasons have caused sickness, and restrained con- 
fidence from physicians, and the desire of the heart 
is to be restored to manhood's strength without the 
humiliation of a confession to any earthly friend or 
acquaintance. God, who knoweth all secrets, knows 
all about you, and stands ready to hear your soul's 
confession and forgive all wrong-doing and remove 
the effects from the body. Physicians agree in at- 
tributing much of the physical distress to social and 
sexual evils. Those who come to the Lord for help 
in sickness should remove all the cause thereof, as 
far as known, and be purged from every uncleanness 
and make strong decision to live in righteousness all 
the rest of life. 

May the Lord bless these letters of testimony to the 
good of many young men and boys who are in physi- 
cal distress and bound by disease. What a beautiful 
thing it is to see a youth entering manhood with a 
pure, strong body and active mind, unaffected by evil 
habits or disease ! and how much more beautiful to 
see every ability and power engaged in the service of 
the Almighty ! There is, however, a solemn grandeur 



418 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

and beauty in observing a poor sin-bound, disease-bur- 
dened, and destroyed manhood appealing unto the 
heavenly powers to obtain spiritual life, health, and 
strength to devote in humble service to that which was 
once rejected and despised. Surely he is wise who 
preserves his manhood and yields it gladly to the 
Lord's service, and truly he also is wise who, having 
through ignorance or willfulness "been brought low," 
seeks to regain the lost estate to glorify and honor the 
Giver. We greet you, dear boys and men, with love, 
honor, and highest esteem because of the noble and 
worthy battle you fight and win when you yield your- 
selves " just as I am" to the Lord of hosts, the mighty 
God of heaven and earth. 



Dear Boys: Before I gave my heart to God and 
was saved from my sins, I had formed many bad habits, 
which proved to be snares laid for me by the enemy 
of souls, to enslave me to lusts and passions, and 
finally bring ruin and misery upon me for soul and 
body. As " the wages of sin is death," and " what- 
soever a man soweth that shall he also reap," if we 
" sow to the flesh we will of the flesh reap corruption." 
I found it so, and proved that sin is deceitful; for 
while it promises pleasure, it in reality gives misery 
and woe. As Solomon has said concerning wine, "at 
last it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an 
adder," I for one have been "reaping my wild oats" 



DIVINE HEAXINO.. 419 

bitterly. While I lived in sin, following its pleasures 
and pursuits, I laid the foundation for disease, which 
preyed upon my body and corrupted my mind. As 
we indulge in carnal pleasures we surely "reap cor- 
ruption." When God saved me I was as David says 
in Ps. 38 : 70. There was " no soundness in my 
flesh," but disease had fastened upon me, from which 
I had sought deliverance in various ways but had not 
found, until I learned to trust God for healing. I 
will tell you about it, as it may help some one. 

At the age of sixteen I first comprehended what 
lust had done for me, and tried to free mvself from 

/ d 

its grasp ; but it was too late. Through ignorance I 
had entered its snare through the influence of an old 
gray-headed man, who taught me the awful practice 
of self-abuse, or secret vice. I pray God may forgive 
him, and help me to sound ah alarm to others; for 
we are surely to be pitied if we enter this evil through 
lack of instruction. Knowing how polluting, destroy- 
ing, and degrading it is, I would use all. possible 
means to prevent others from partaking of it, to their 
injury. It makes a young man fit for no society but 
that of those who are equally defiled, although they 
need the very best and purest companionship to lead 
them to reform. 

After a young man has ruined his character, con- 
stitution, and health and is seeking deliverance, there 
are many traps and decoys to allure his confident 
and money, promising health, life, vigor, etc., through 
newspaper advertisements or quack doctors, I proved 



420 MOTHEKs' COUNSEL TO THMTR SOtfS. 

to ray own satisfaction that they are mostly frauds, 
although recommended by missionaries or discovered 
on their mission tours, etc. Many of these are in 
league, and when one gets your name and address you 
are soon flooded with "important secret mail," from 
every direction, although the first guarantees a per- 
fect cure — which proves them unreliable. This I 
learned in trying various remedies — was taking treat- 
ment from a specialist at the time the Lord healed 
me. I had many times asked the Lord, if there was 
a perfect remedy to cure me, that he would lead me 
to it. I had never heard divine healing preached at 
that time, but a brother came to our town preaching 
the full gospel of salvation and healing. 

One night after the evening service and after re- 
tiring, the Holy Spirit asked me the question, " Do 
you want to be healed ?" I said, "Yes, Lord." Then 
the question, " Will you preach the gospel ?" was 
asked three times in succession, and I answered each 
time, "Yes, Lord." Then God began to fill me with 
his Spirit; the Holy Ghost permeating my whole 
being; it seemed like the disease was oozing out 
through the pores of the skin. I hnew the Lord healed 
me, and to him be all the glory. Afterwards I be- 
lieved the Lord would have me testify to healing, but 
I feared to because of the prejudice against healing 
from my friends. One evening I felt I must testify 
to it or I would lose it. So I asked the Lord for 
courage, and I testified that God had healed me, 
though I did not say what from, and again I felt the 



DIYIXE HEAU3TO. 421 

witness of the Spirit that the work was done, which 
strengthened my faith and gave greater boldness. 

I have been afflicted several times since with other 
ailments, but Jesus has delivered me. Praise his 
name! "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, 
but the Lord clelivereth him out of them all." I 
have found this great deliverance in the Lord, and, 
dear reader, you may have it too ; for Jesus is able 
and willing to do the same for vou. If vou conse- 
crate your life to him, search his word, believe his 
promises, and obey his precepts, you may know "that 
the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlast- 
ing upon them that fear him," and " that remember 
his commandments to do them." 

From one who loves you and wishes you well, 

E. H. 



Dear Boys : Although I was blessed with good re- 
ligious parents who protected me from the companion- 
ship of evil associates, I was hardly more than five 
years old when I became guilty of practicing self- 
abuse. I do not know any way of my entering into it, 
only that it was in me to do it — an evil, lustful nature. 
Of course I did not know the terrible results that 
would follow in later years; so I kept it up almost 
incessantly, and the habit grew upon me. 

When about the age of sixteen I began to learn the 
evil effects that were going to follow. So I began to 
retrace my footsteps, but the giant evil had such a 



422 MOTHERS* COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 



hold on me then that it was the master of me; and, 
although I ceased the evil practice, its effects helped 
to bring on catarrh of the head, of the throat, and of 
the stomach, and began to spread into my lungs, which 
no doubt would soon have caused consumption. The 
disease which had fallen upon me through that evil 
practice continued to absorb the vitality of my mind. 
I spent four years in a high school, where this effect 
was very clearly manifest. At this time I put my- 
self in a good doctor's hands for treatment, and con- 
tinued it until I was saved, which was after my 
twenty-first birthday ; but I kept getting worse' all the 
time until I was saved. Shortly afterward the Lord 
healed me of all my diseases, in answer to prayer and 
obedience to the word of God, except the one which 
had obtained the mastery of me at the start. Some- 
times I had such a loss of vitality that my mind was 
weakened until it was hard for me to battle against 
the enemy of my soul. 

I often pondered in my mind whether it was the 
Lord's will to heal me of that sin-obtained one or 
not. Finally I decided to take it to the Lord, and as 
my soul began to sink deeper into God I had two of 
the brothers anoint me and pray for the healing of 
my body, and I was instantly healed, for which I 
give God all the glory. The Lord has also saved and 
sanctified my soul, by two works of grace, and has 
given me " the Spirit of love and of power and of a 
strong mind." 

Your brother in Christ, H. R. 



DIVINE HEALING. 423 

A PRAYERFUL MEDITATION. 

O dear Lord, in love and pity 
Help our souls to know thy grace: 
May we see thy gracious favor 
As we look upon thy face ; 
May we see the marks of suf 'ring 
On thy brow, in hands and side, 
And remember they were given, 
That in thee we might abide. 

If thou lov'd us thus so dearly, 
And in thee we ever dwell, 
Sure it is that thou art willing 
To our hearts thy love to tell — 
By the bearing of our burdens, 
By the healing of our pain. 
By the witness of thy Spirit, 
That thy suf 'ring brought us gain. 

By thy stripes is perfect healing, 
In thy wounds are life and strength, 
From thy pierced and wounded body 
Flows the stream whose breadth and length 
Covers earth with richest blessings, 
And contains the healing balm 
For our sins and sore distresses, 
That our sorrows thou'shouldst calm. 

Come we then with perfect freedom 
To the fount of living power, 
Lay we down our sins and sickness 
And rejoice in thee each hour ; 
For thou art our Great Physician 
And our souls' and bodies' health. 
Thus we praise, and give thee honor, 
And esteem our heav'nly wealth. 



424 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

But, dear Lord, there are so many 
Out of Christ, in sin and pain, 
And they know not love and mercy, 
Nor unite in glad refrain ; 
That we ask thee to endow us 
With thy wisdom, love, and grace, 
That we may so wisely teach them, 
That they too may see thy face, 

See thee, Lord, in all thy beauty, 

Love, and power, and tenderness, 

That their hearts may melt before thee- 

Feel it all, and never less — 

That they too may give thee glory 

And abide within thy love, 

Safely housed from earthly sorrows, 

Ready for thy home above. 



TIME AND ETERNITY. 



As these words meet our eyes the thought arises 
in our minds, "What is the difference between time 
and eternity ? " Time is a measured portion of 
duration, and eternity is duration unmeasured by the 
flight of years. Time belongs to us now while the 
moments, hours, days, and years are fast passing into 
the past and bringing the future eternity nearer to us. 
Eternity is the long unmeasured future that lies 
before each of us, containing very much that is for 
our happiness or sorrow. 

Time is the space given to man to prepare for 
eternity. To us as individuals it may be long or 
short, but whichever it is, it is always long enough to 
achieve the greatest possible results — even the obtain- 
ing of an eternity of life in the blissful abode of God. 
So time for each of us is fraught with grave responsi- 
bilities ; and he who acknowledges the same is a wise 
man, but he who also uses every opportunity to bear 
and accomplish those responsibilities is far wiser. 
He who kindly and wisely ordereth all things for the 
good of man has ordained time to be one of the great 
factors to procure him the joys of enternal glory. We 
each appear upon the scene of time at the day of our 
birth, and leave it as death opens the door of eternity. 



425 



426 MOTHEES r COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

Time gives us each the opportunity to wisely choose 
the place of our abode for the long, endless, eternal 
future. 

We see around us a multitude of individuals pre- 
paring a dwelling-place — a home — for themselves to 
occupy during the years of their natural lives. This 
is a wise effort and accomplishes much for the good of 
the people. Home is the dearest spot on earth to 
many hearts, because it is there the purest emotions 
and affections of hearts garner themselves for the 
purest earthly happiness. Few individuals are will- 
ing to be tossed about by the changing scenes of time 
all the days of life, and " die among strangers." 
Many hearts are made sad when the future holds no 
prospects of even a humble earthly home. How 
many times we hear in pathetic accents this expres- 
sion : " My only earthly aspiration is just a small, 
comfortable home; were that obtained, it would be 
heaven and earth to me." This shows the inclination 
of the human mind and heart to provide for the 
present and future emergencies of time. But oh, 
how much wiser would it be to long after and provide 
for a beautiful home for the eternal future. So 
many are so actively engaged in preparing to live the 
earthly life in comfort and pleasure that they neglect 
to meet the requirement of time and prepare for 
eternity. 

Our life — our day of time — is but a short period 
that shall determine the future eternal abode of the 
precious immortal soul. Two homes await our 



TIME AKD ETEiRNITY. 427 

choice, and day by day our lives are determining, al- 
most imperceptibly, which it shall be. If our hearts 
are clinging to earthly joys, worldly good, and selfish 
purposes and neglecting to accept of higher and purer 
things, then the decision is far below the heavenly and 
tends to land the soul in the eternal abode of the un- 
believing and careless. 

There are few in civilized countries who have not 
heard of heaven and hell ; but to very many they are 
purely imaginary places, and each individual forms 
his own conception of them ; and some are very doubt- 
ful of their existence, and treat' everything pertaining 
to them with contempt. The Bible reader may form 
a more perfect conception of them from its teachings 
than the dreamer or worldly wise, and should en- 
deavor to obtain a complete and true realization of 
them as God intended. 

Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people ; 
it is a holy, lovely, and very desirable home intended 
for a " righteous nation." Jesus said, " I. go to pre- 
pare a place for you ; and if I go and prepare a place 
for you, I will come again and receive you unto my- 
self, that where I am, there you may be also." When 
we remember that the Christian is to love the Lord 
with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength, then we 
can more clearly see that where he abides will be the 
most precious place to every faithful and loving dis- 
ciple. As those who " know not God " do not enjoy 
his fellowship or the companionship of the children 
of God or the lovely and holy things of God, they 



428 MOTHERS* COUNSEL TO THEIR SONS. 

would not enjoy heaven with all its glories. All 
through the word of truth heaven is held before the 
world as a very desirable and happy place ; while hell 
is just the opposite, and all souls are faithfully 
warned to escape its sorrows and punishments. 

Some of you may wonder why it should be neces- 
sary to punish the wicked by banishment from God's 
presence throughout eternity. There is a vast dif- 
ference between good and evil, and just as great a dif- 
ference between the results thereof. If one chooses 
evil instead of good, he also chooses the consequences 
thereof ; and that is banishment from God, and com- 
panionship with those he has honored with his friend- 
ship and service— the wicked and the Devil. Those 
who are doubtful of these two places and the dif- 
ferent characters that inhabit them should read their 
Bibles carefully, and pray God to reveal the truth to 
them. Many dear souls in their unsaved state have 
had a good look into the depths of hell, and have 
shrunk from its borders with real gratitude to God 
that their lives were lengthened to prepare for heaven. 
Others have considered these things a myth, and have 
boldly faced death as the " end of all," and yet have 
been made to testify to the agonies of hell as they 
passed over its border into its awful punishments. 
Sometimes dear people love to consider God so loving, 
kind, and merciful that he could not punish the evil- 
doer ; therefore they close their eyes and ears to the 
unpleasant reality, and drift down to the end of their 
time unprepared for eternity. They have forgotten 



TIME Amy ETERNITY. 429 

that a holy God must uphold justice, and man as a 
free moral agent must have his choice. 

O dear boys, do not yield to skeptical thoughts, but 
believe the truth and prepare to meet God when time 
shall end and eternity for you shall begin. Com- 
mence now to heed wisdom's voice and use your days 
and years of time so wisely and well that all that is 
good, true, and lovely may be yours for that endless 
eternity. As the soul yields to God and enjoys the 
spiritual blessings that attend the spiritual life of the 
soul and the grace of God, he often realizes the near- 
ness of heaven and sees and feels its glorious reality. 
He is just as confident of its unspeakable glories as 
he is of his existence ; for the very essence of heaven 
is in his soul. Sometimes, too, he is made sure of 
the existence of hell as he experiences its opposing, 
darkening, and hellish powers upon his soul in awful 
effort to lead him astray from God and truth. If he 
resists its influence, he is made doubly strong, and 
encouraged to a closer walk with God. 

Time gives us each grand opportunities for the 
noblest work that can be imagined. When we see in- 
dividuals giving their time and strength to the relief 
of the suffering, we can not but think, " That is a pure 
and good work," and that the individuals are surely 
moved by the noblest impulse of love and pity for the 
distressed. Often greatest difficulties and severest 
hardships are willingly endured to bring relief to the 
suffering. As we look upon the battle-fields strewn 
with dead and dying men, Ave see the gentle nurse 



4:30 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

searching out the needy ones and giving the last cup 
of water, bathing the fevered brow, sending the last 
message home, or raising the wounded and dying 
man's head to a mother's pillow while words of 
heavenly counsel and prayer bring the last look of 
peace and joy as the soul departs or yields the needed 
courage for the surgeon's knife. If this ministra- 
tion of love and mercy is admirable and necessary, 
how much greater and more needful is that labor that 
encourages souls to prepare for the future and spend 
eternity not with the lost in eternal despair, but in 
heaven with the Lord of earth and glory. If it is a 
work of mercy to* relieve the sufferings of the body 
for time, how much more merciful is that labor that 
shall save a soul from hell, from its eternal pangs and 
wretchedness ! 

Oh, dear boys ! this is a strong reality, and should 
awaken each of you to your responsibility. Souls are 
needing help — are crying for the pure gospel and 
waiting for the help that you should give. God is 
laying his hand of love upon you, and saying, " Go 
work in my vineyard." He says we are " laborers to- 
gether with him," and nothing can be so noble, grand, 
and worthy of desire as the privilege of winning souls 
to a life of holy service to God during the fleeting 
years of time, and an eternity of bliss in heaven. 
Jesus did the work God gave him to do, in yielding 
a sacrifice for the sins of the world. He earnestly 
and lovingly invited the people to come unto him for 
eternal life, and those who obey shall never see the 



TIME ATs T D ETERNITY. 431 

eternal death of the soul in the painful realities of 
hell. If we have the love of God in our souls, it will 
constrain us to walk in the footsteps of Jesus in seek- 
ing to save the perishing. 

If in the burning of a great building many people 
should be seen calling for help while supporting the 
unconscious (who make no effort for their escape, be- 
cause they realize not their danger), and the multi- 
tude standing around made no effort to assist the poor 
inmates from the perilous position, we would agree in 
censuring them for their unmerciful conduct. This 
state of things, however, is seldom seen, for the heart 
of man is touched with sympathy, and in such cases 
earnest effort is made to bring the inmates the neces- 
sary assistance. All around us are precious souls 
who would like to be delivered from the power of 
Satan, and others who are unconscious of their great 
need. Surely we who name the name of Christ Jesus 
as our Savior should not be lacking in that love and 
sympathy that would do all possible to rescue them 
from their dangerous position. We can only do this 
wisely and well by seeking to know just what God 
would be pleased to have us do by his gracious as- 
sistance. We in our own wisdom and strength can 
accomplish nothing in this work, but if filled and 
led by the Holy Spirit of God, he will direct and ac- 
complish his purposes. 

While God would have an earnest and diligent 
people, and each has something to do for his glory and 
the good of souls, he makes choice of some to " preach 



432 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

the word;" and those thus called, if they keep humble, 
faithful, and true, shall win many precious souls to 
the Lord's service and be the instruments in his 
hands of preparing them for the blissful realities of 
an eternity of glory. Dear boys, you ought not to 
shrink from this grand and glorious work. God 
surely honors you when he entrusts it into your care, 
though he who teaches the gospel is servant of all 
who hear; for he is serving the truth of God unto 
them for their eternal benefit. Oh, that we might 
speak such words and live such lives as will lead 
precious souls to eternal peace and glory, and make 
them as stars in our crowns of rejoicing to cast at the 
feet of him who so loved us as to give his life a ran- 
som for many ! 

" The field is the world," and it is white unto har- 
vest; and the laborers are few, because many who 
claim to be sent of God are " seeking their own " in- 
stead of the things of God, and are scattering the 
sheep instead of bringing them to the one fold — the 
church of God. Thousands are going down to death 
without the knowledge of the truth, and heathen 
nations must hear the everlasting gospel of salva- 
tion before the end of time, which is rapidly nearing. 
Awake! awake! ye soldiers of the cross of Christ, 
and be as valiant to carry the glad news of eternal 
freedom to sin-bound souls as the nations are to fight 
for the freedom of the oppressed. 

Time gives us the precious opportunity to live 
grandly and well while we pass our threescore years 



TIME AND ETERNITY. 433 

and ten in this world of sin, and prepare for the 
glorious realities of the heavenly eternity. To live 
grandly is to live in God's own good way, doing his 
will in all things — walking in the Spirit. The eternal 
life that gives us eternal existence with God must 
begin in the soul during the years of time. It comes 
unto us when we " believe on the Lord Jesus Christ 
to the saving of the soul/' and continues as we yield 
unto God perfect obedience and live the life of faith. 
Then, dear boys, use well your gift of time, and 
make it yield you the choicest blessings of eternity. 

Oh, that words could be stronger and express more 
forcibly the earnestness of mothers' hearts in their 
yearnings after their sons' eternal good. We ask not 
for any of you honor, riches, or fame; but that you 
may be so wise as to sit at the feet of the great King 
of glory and learn of him each day of time, that you 
may reap the fruit thereof in eternity. We are con- 
scious of doing all we could to rightly direct your 
mind and hearts as we have dwelt upon these dif- 
ferent subjects, and claim the promises of God that 
our labor shall not be in vain. We entreat each of 
you who shall receive good therefrom that you strive 
as earnestly to assist others and win them to the nar- 
row way of truth and to an eternal home in heaven. 
Let the most wretched, the lowest in sin and folly, 
receive your sympathy and help as well as the proud 
and independent; for we all must stand before the 
Judge of all the earth to give account of our doings, 
" whether they be good or evil." 



434: mothers' counsel to their sons. 

What can we say more to "our boys," our darling 
sons, to induce you to wisely use your gift of time? 
Soon death, shall come to each of us, and to all who 
have faithfully spent time in preparing for eternity 
it will be a joyful entrance to purer scenes, to richer 
and deeper joys of eternity. Then may you so live 
your length of days that as death swings open the 
door of eternity your souls may forever bask in the 
glorious presence of him who hath power over death, 
and bids a joyous welcome to each blood-bought and 
fully redeemed soul. Shout aloud, ye ransomed 
throng, and enter joyfully your eternal abode, where 
there are joys forever more in the presence of the 
King of glory. 



EXHORTATION FOR ETERNITY. 

Now, dear boys ! Our precious sons ! 
You surely are the favored ones, 
Having the love and earnest prayer 
Of mothers' hearts, their constant prayer, 
Their counsel good, and hopeful cheer, 
To guide you to a home so dear. 

In your strength and youthful power, 
Think of time as every hour 
Brings you nearer its border line, 
And to your Lord your hearts incline, 
That you may grasp, in simple trust, 
The words of God — the holy must. 



TEVfE AND ETERNITY. 435 

For v?e~must yield our hearts to him, 

And serve him true when eyes are dim ; 

And we must guard each thought and act, 

And live by faith in very fact, 

Walk in the steps of holy love, 

If we would reach the world above. 

Now, dear boys, this is not hard ; 
For he who asks stands faithful guard, 
To bear the burden, and give you grace 
To run to heav'n, that holy place 
Of which we read, and surely see, 
As Jesus says, " Come, follow me." 

This is no myth or simple tale, 
Because his truth shall never fail, 
And what he says must come to pass. 
If you would not lament : " Alas ! 
Alas ! my sorrows are doubly great ! " 
Then you must enter the narrow gate, 

And ' ' walk with God " in holy peace, 
And find a sure and safe release 
From fleshly ways and youthful lusts, 
And take in freely the holy musts, 
And thus prepare to end your days 
In perfect love and holy ways. 

Yes, time may end at any hour ! 
And so we pray for heavenly power 
To guide our feet in wisdom's way, 
That we may greet, without dismay, 
The dying day and change of place, 
That gives the saved so great a grace. 



436 mothers' counsel to their sons. 

For heaven is true a lovely home, 
To draw our feet — we need not roam, 
But walk in ways of truth and love, 
Guided by the " Holy Dove," 
Then live forever in perfect peace, 
Where joys and praise shall never cease. 

Then come, dear sons, and join the throng 

Who praise the Lord in holy song, 

And love to think of how with thee 

In joy and bliss well ever be 

In heavenly home so glorious fair — 

Oh, meet us, boys, forever there ! 



JUL 30 J904 



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